Christmas lights cutbacks
Creamtea
Posts: 14,682 Forum Member
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Tried to see if their was already a thread on this but couldn't. Just wondered what people thought about 40% of councils deciding not to bother/cut back on Xmas street lights this year. Obviously the councils are using redundancies/cutbacks as the reasons for this decision, but do you think Xmas lights encourage more people into a retail centre over the xmas period to spend money, therefore meaning the councils have shot themselves in the feet, as they may lose more than they think they are saving? My opinion is that it's a real shame, as I think Xmas lights are really uplifting at this time of year when it's dark out early and that they do encourage people to get into the Christmas spirit. And I suspect Christmas lights are a drop in the ocean cost-wise, for most councils.
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No sorry. It was on The Wright Stuff this morning though so should be able to view on 5s website I guess.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/leeds/poll/2011/may/16/leeds-festive-lights-face-funding-cuts
also they mentioned exeter and Islington as examples on the TV earlier too. I guess it could turn out to be a storm in a teacup though.
and no i don't think christmas lights encourage people to go shopping
Really? You don't think families who may not ordinarily go shopping into a town centre together wouldn't do so because the kids wanted to see the Christmas lights and whilst they are there may spend some money? I think in my local town the night they switch the lights on sees lots of people in the town centre, all the shops are open and everyone does a roaring trade. I remember as kid me and my brother used to love looking around the Xmas lights. But I completely agree that it isn't a life or death topic!
no i don't.
i think families have a budget and a wish to buy things at christmas time. i doubt people are going to buy less presents because their are no lights up.
I agree with you to an extent, it's part of the whole Christmas experience, the high street wont have the same feeling without the lights
Why should councils fund the christmas lights.
It depends if it is a tourist attraction.
Birmingham, for example, will pay for and put up lights to increase the festive feeling for the tourists that flock to the German Market (the largest outside Germany).
Tour companies offer trips specifically so people can come to the market - increasing footfall massively - and hence benefit the shops and cafes.
Where do you think the council get their money from?
Budgeted out of Central Government.
I'm personally more concerned with my local hospital closing. And the local theatre [our only cultural centre, and performing arts collage] losing funding, than the shopping centers Christmas lights.
Also it's just occurred to me, shouldn't the local traders be footing the bill? They are the ones that benefit. And back in the day, when my family had shops, thats how it was funded.
My home town have just spent millions building a spanky new council office in the centre of town. Recently they have turned all the lights off in the town after midnight (I think it's midnight, which is fair enough) although its annoyed a fair few people in the town, the running joke though is that the new council offices are lit up like a Christmas tree !
Which will bring local employment surely?
I completely agree that these things should always come first.
Or could force other, local businesses to close?
And I should imagine they definately do encourage folk to spend a bit more they than may do walking down a plain, unlit high street
Maybe, maybe not. Shall we wait and see before we decide? In my experience not everyone shops in Lewis, it's quite pricey. I haven't shopped there for ages. And these days tend to be quite loyal to independent shops, where personal service never fails to impress. I do appreciate that it's hard for small traders and act accordingly. I'm of the age where I grew up with proper High Streets, and miss them greatly.