Council refuses to pay for Christmas lights

Oct 19 2008

A DECISION to scrap Christmas light cash has seen a council branded the “Bah Humbug Borough”.

The Scrooge accusation comes after Wirral council said it would save £30,000 from its 2009 budget by withdrawing its annual cash donation for decorations.

Instead it said businesses should try to persuade local area forums to part with funds from their own budgets – cash usually spent on litter picking and removing graffiti.

Birkenhead Grange and Pyramids Shopping Centre director Derek Miller funds his own centres’ lights.

He even told Wirral council it could use his spare decorations.

Mr Miller said: “The council declined because it would have to put them up, and there are health and safety checks to make sure they don’t fall down.

“A key area of Birkenhead with Primark, Top Shop, Woolworths and Boots could be affected.

“I know we’re in a recession but it will be so drab. It’s all a bit ‘bah humbug’.