A PLEA for more help in putting on Tavistock?s Christmas lights was this week issued on behalf of the town?s chamber of commerce.
Nigel Eadie, proprietor of The Original Pasty House and a new member of the chamber, said the issue of the Christmas lights and the finances to stage them was raised at last week?s chamber meeting.
He told town council members last week: ?I think everyone would agree the Christmas lights in Tavistock are a pretty amazing spectacle ? we are probably the envy of other small towns in the area.
?As far as I am aware, the funding for lights in a lot of towns and cities falls on local councils and I think whilst the chamber is willing to undertake the organisation of the lights, it probably feels it?s a little unfair it has the financial burden every year of raising the £5,000 required to stage the lights.?
Mr Eadie said the dazzling display was a ?huge benefit? to the community in terms of visitors and asked the council to increase ?significantly? the contribution it made towards the funding of the lights.
?I suspect that might not be practical this year, in terms of budget setting, but certainly next year ? we propose the council should contribute a 50% partnership,? said Mr Eadie.
Finance committee chairman Cllr Peter Jones said the council had only been asked for donations in the past ? it had also offered the chamber the use of its ?cherry picker? to assist in erecting the lights.
He agreed the request would be considered by the finance committee at a future meeting.