TAVISTOCK will not be as bright as normal over the Christmas period this year as the town council has decided to reduce the festive lighting owing to increased costs.

Due to a number of factors this year, including the usual installer of the lighting pulling out and having to find a new one who would be unfamiliar with the existing set-up, a statutory requirement to undertake testing of the fittings, and the cabling of the zig-zag street lights getting old and in need of replacing, the work would exceed the town council's usual budget for the lights.

The chamber of commerce, which used to foot the bill for the lights until it asked the town council to take over a few years ago for a short term, will not be providing any funds and Tavistock BID has agreed in principal to a grant of £1,250, subject to full board approval.

At a meeting of the full council last week councillors were asked to consider whether it would be appropriate to deliver the lights for this year.

Works superintendent Wayne Southall recommended that the town council undertake the installation of lighting schemes within the allocated budget, focussing in and around the approach to the Guildhall, town hall, Duke Street and ancillary areas under the custodianship of the town council.

Cllr Brian Trew highlighted that any contribution made by BID may mean they would still need to pay a lot more than last year.

Town clerk Carl Hearn said the works superintendent had a budget and would deliver what he can within that: 'Clearly, it won't be as much. It's not going to be what it has been in the past. If we go with them this year we will need to think quickly about what we are going to do next year.'

In what she called 'the saddest recommendation I have had to make so far' Cllr Mandy Ewings said: 'I formally recommend that I think we can't afford the Christmas lights this year, apart from the suggested areas.

'I think Cllr Bailey and I, with our position on the BID board, can say that the money has not been officially agreed and it is not what businesses agreed to in the original BID plan. I think we have to go with the proposal that is here and we can't do any more this year due to costs and safety.

'In these times of austerity we just don't have the money. People think we have bottomless pockets. We've got to be realistic and I think we have to just bite the bullet.'

Cllr Philip Sanders seconded the proposal saying: 'I am extremely disappointed that the chamber of commerce don't feel able to support the Christmas lights in any way — I find it quite extraordinary. I don't think we can rely on the BID money.

'I don't think we have a choice, we can't afford to overspend our budget on it. Things have to go somewhere. If we want to save money to preserve things like the Meadows, cuts have to be made elsewhere.'

Cllr Harry Smith was hopeful people would still come to the town and be able to enjoy the lights that are there.

The council voted in favour of the recommendation.

Chairman of the chamber of commerce Nigel Eadie said later that he was 'incredibly disappointed' for traders in the town, as well as for people who visited it, to be in a situation where there was not a full pageant of Christmas lights.

He said:?'Christmas lights are so important to the traders who are having enough of a difficult time as it is and rely on Christmas trade to get them out of jail across the year and there is also the enjoyment factor — people love soaking up the atmosphere that these olde worlde lights create.'

He said the council had to come to the rescue after the chamber could not afford to put the lights on. 'It's a case that we simply do not have the reserves,' he added. 'It is also upsetting that we have not formally been told of the council's decision regarding the lights and we have to hear it from the press. It would have been nice to have had an opportunity to sort out a solution to resolve it with the council first.'