Angus towns risk a bleak midwinter if they don’t pay for their own Christmas lights, it has been warned.
A community council chairman has warned that the seven burghs must act now if they want to see festive town centre displays this year.
Council moves to save £85,000 a year will take hold this season, as the local authority believes “sharing the role” with community groups will save an important but “non-statutory” function.
Mark Cessford, of Montrose, asked for confirmation of Angus Council’s intentions towards lights in each of the burghs for which it previously supplied the lights.
A letter from street lighting officer John Shand confirmed each community will have to test and repair its lighting, install it, take it down, and organise any switch-on event.
Mr Cessford said: “It is now imperative that the public are made aware that we will need their support both financially and physically if we are to achieve the end result of our town having a festive display on show.
“Unless there is a concerted effort, the reality would be that your town will lack festive feel this year.”
Mr Cessford said he is not criticising the decision, which was approved by the previous administration.
“I have no desire to be dragged into personal conflict with Angus Council over this, but feel that we have a public duty to inform everyone of this significant change,” he said.
Mr Shand’s letter stated the council will provide a Christmas tree without lights and install it, provide and fund an electricity supply, test the eye bolts on buildings, provide and maintain column brackets, provide road closure orders and traffic management, help put on a display, and store lighting for the next two years.
Scottish Conservative North East MSP Bill Bowman said: “The festive period is a special time of year for families around the country.
“The lights placed throughout Angus are magical additions to towns and possess the ability to capture the true essence of the Christmas spirit.
“Admittedly council budgets are extremely tight, but you can’t help but feel it would be extremely worthy for Angus Council to provide some kind of support for what many residents would view as a very worthy cause.”
A council spokeswoman said: “With the reduction of public funding for councils, we have looked at sharing the role for delivery of the non-statutory function.
“We have been working for several years with community groups to provide Christmas lighting displays, such as the successful delivery by the community in Glamis, Edzell and Friockheim and last Christmas in Kirriemuir.
“Following the agreement by the council in the budget setting in February we are continuing to work with the community groups to enable the burgh displays to continue.”
The cost of Christmas
Perth and Kinross, Fife, Aberdeenshire and Dundee councils continue to pay for lighting in larger towns and main population centres, with a mixture of Common Good arrangements and partnerships with organisations such as community councils, Rotary clubs and Round Tables.
Scottish councils spent more than £3 million on Christmas trees, lights and events last year.
Local authorities paid out at least £3,232,824 to ring in the festive season.
Glasgow City Council was the biggest single spender, with £645,345 spent on displays and entertainment.
Edinburgh Council spent £167,000 on its decorations but has indicated it will cut back on 20 neighbourhood displays this year.
South Lanarkshire Council forked out £322,028.
The country’s cheapest Christmas was in Shetland, where three trees were donated by locals.
