Cheltenham to get better Christmas lights
ON one of the hottest days of the year so far, councillors in Cheltenham spread a little unseasonal cheer by agreeing to spend more money on the town's Christmas lights.
As part of a report on how Cheltenham Borough Council wants to spend money to help businesses in the town, Conservative councillor Klara Sudbury (C, Charlton park) put forward an amendment.
She said under the previous Tory-led administration, £20,000 had been earmarked to improve Christmas lights in Cheltenham – and it hadn't been spent.
"I normally don't want to use the 'C' word before November, but I need to talk about Christmas," she said.
"I want to propose that the council uses that money on improving the lights in Cheltenham.
"Boot's Corner always looks bad, it used to be beautiful."
She added she was not a fan of some of the plainer decorations that seem to be favoured in the town.
She said: "Lets not have more lamp-posts with bulbs with a bit of blue twizzle on them. I like flashing Father Christmases and I'm not going to apologise for that."
She added that she has set up a Facebook group called the Campaign to Get Some Proper Christmas Lights for Cheltenham.
Questioning the need for further investment, Cabinet member for sustainability Paul Massey (LD, Swindon Village) said that the council had already replaced many of the older bulbs with energy efficient ones.
And council leader Steve Jordan (LD, All Saints) said the authority had already committed £15,000 to helping businesses out with Christmas this year.
But speaking in favour of Coun Sudbury's amendment, Coun Duncan Smith (C, Charlton Kings) said the Liberal Democrat members were missing the point.
He said: "This is not about council's replacing bulbs, we're talking about extending a scheme to areas of town which need that support."
Amid cries of "Bah Humbug" from some councillors, he added: "The council should say, let's not cancel Christmas and accept the amendment. The decision needs to be made now if something is to be done this year."
Cabinet member for finance John Rawson (LD, St Peter's) accepted the amendment, though said £4,000 of the earmarked £20,000 had been spent.
13 Comments
View all
by IQ, Cheltenham
Friday, July 03 2009, 12:22PM
“As well as making the lights better, the whole switch on event needs to move forward. After McFly, which was great for everyone and filled the town with vistors ( all spending money in the local shops ), its not been as good.
That was the first event that provided something for all age groups.
Last year wasnt very good at all.......
Lets have a big event again and fill the town and show everyone how nice Cheltenham is.... or shall we let Gloucester take all the plaudits for the County ?”
by ATB, Nam
Thursday, July 02 2009, 10:58AM
“First of all, getting children to choose the lights is an incredibly bad idea. It is a fact that children have no taste and it would make the town look incredibly cheap.
Secondly, the best thing about the current lights (along with their subtlety) is surely that they cost relatively little to power. Should we really be asking for more lights to increase energy usage? Surely replacing all the lights we have with energy saving onces would be the responsible thing to do.
Besides, if you want to see tacky flashy lights then drive around The Reddings anytime from 1 November...”
by S.Claus, Cheltenham
Thursday, July 02 2009, 9:25AM
“I would like to see lots of flashy things up the High Street and much more sophisticated lighting in the promeade. (Bring back the victorian lanterns from years ago.)
The Municipal offices can have changing multicolored floodlights and a laser light snow storm.”
by Ho Ho Ho, Cheltenham
Thursday, July 02 2009, 8:37AM
“Aren't Christmas lights all about attracting shoppers ....in which case, what are local businesses doing to help fund a better lighting display?
Why no comment from the Chamber of Commerce?”
by sideshow bob, cheltenham
Thursday, July 02 2009, 6:35AM
“NO multicoloured flashing stuff. but if going to, then put them on high st.”