THE fund to produce Tavistock?s Christmas lights is to receive a cash boost, following the thumbs up from the town council. Tavistock Chamber of Commerce has applied to the council for a grant to stage the annual light show, which costs around £7,000 to organise. Chamber secretary Guy Talbottold the council?s finance committee that despite hard work by chamber members, the organisation faced a shortfall of £1,234 last year. He said the chamber was grateful for the £300 grant it received from the council last year ? but hoped it may be able to increase the amount for this year?s Christmas lights. Cllr Peter Jones said the chamber did a huge amount of work to try and raise money for the festive lights every year. ?The chamber divides into teams and physically knocks on every door ? it doesn?t just put a note in the paper. They do work extremely hard,? he said. Cllr Norma Woodcock proposed the grant to the chamber be increased to £500. She said: ?I would like to point out the grant we make to the chamber is by no means anything like the total contribution we make. ?We make a really big effort in the pannier market, we support the Lions substantially with the trees of light, which in effect is illuminating the whole of Bedford Square. ?I don?t begrudge it but I do think we have to be clear that the money we give to the chamber is only a small part of our contribution to the Christmas decorations ? we have to remember it?s ratepayers money that?s being spent.? An amendment, proposed by Cllr David Farrant, that the grant be increased to £1,000 fell ? the committee agreed the grant for the Christmas lights should be £500. The committee also agreed that the £3,500 which is normally paid to the Ring and Ride transport service in Tavistock should be included in the budget for the coming year. Both decisions were ratified at the council?s meeting last week.
