Key land at the heart of Stroud is set to become a battleground in a row over money.
Open space at Wallbridge could get a 'focal point and landmark' between the canal and Ecotricity's headquarters, after Stroud District Council voted its budget plans through on Thursday evening.
But opposition members called for more information about the plans, before the council sinks up to £90,000 in to it as match funding with the green energy giant.
"I am concerned that it's been pushed through without proper consideration," Councillor Debbie Young (Con, Chalford) told Stroud Life after the meeting, where she seconded an amendment not to include it in the budget along with other expenditure.
"I asked who the partner was and I was informed it was Ecotricity.
"The administration doesn't know what it will cost or what it will be. You cannot stick this amount of money in to a vanity project."
She also said proposal had not been considered fully enough by the strategy and resources committee before it came to full council.
Councillor Steve Lydon (Lab, The Stanleys) said the money is only set aside at this stage and any proposal would go to the strategy and resources committee before the money is spent.
"We are putting some money in there, and it's a large local employer who is also keen to do it," said Mr Lydon, who presented the budget.
"It will have fully worked-up plans - the money is there but it might not all be spent. The town council will also put money in to it."
He said the Tory group leadership agreed with the idea when he discussed it with them.
An Ecotricity spokesman said: "We are pleased the council has voted in favour of supporting improvements to a public space that sits at the gateway to Stroud.
"The plans are still being finalised by local architects' and Ecotricity is investing a significant sum to help make make this an open space for everyone to enjoy."
In October 2012, initial designs drawn up by Nailsworth architect David Austin for Ecotricity took inspiration from canal cities such as Venice, Amsterdam and Bruges, and found favour with Stroud Civic Society.
Also in the council's capital budget is £3.45million is earmarked for a new rubbish and recycling depot - not all that amount may be spent, on an as-yet unnamed site.
A further £2million has been set aside for new 'affordable' homes over the next two years, £120,000 for new car park ticket machines, and £600,000 for a plan to free up floodplain land for housing.
The council set a zero per cent council tax rise for the fifth year running at the meeting on Thursday night.
It means the average Band D council tax payer will get a bill of £186.93 from the council in the 2015/2016 year which starts in April.
