Festive turn-off (From Gazette Series)

Festive turn-off

BERKELEY may be a dark town this Christmas if local figureheads cannot decide who should fund and organise the festive lights.

It was decided at last month's Berkeley Town Council meeting that the council would not take responsibility for the erection of Christmas lights in the town. Clerk Debbie Burrow said: "Every year several volunteers from the council struggle to put the lights up."

Councillors did agreed that they would be responsible for the decoration of the town hall, spending £150 on internal decorations.

Mrs Burrow said: "We heard verbally from a member of the chamber of trade for the town that they would take on the Christmas lights for us this year."

However, representatives from Berkeley's chamber of trade claim the first they heard of the new arrangement was at their monthly meeting last week.

Tracey Ide, a member of the organisation which promotes trade in the town, told the Gazette: "We haven't taken on the role or taken the responsibility off anyone. We don't know why it has been passed on to us.

"I don't understand why councillors won't organise the Christmas lights - it's their town. It is a town issue."

Mrs Burrow defended the council's decision. She said: "No one has actually asked the town council to fund the public liability insurance or the erection of the lights."

Members of the chamber of trade plan on attending the next town council meeting on Monday to discuss the matter further with councillors.

Mrs Ide said: "We have a town council for a reason - surely this should be their responsibility.

"If the lights do not happen it is the residents and the shopkeepers who will loose out which is why we are encouraging them to come along and lobby the council.

"Have you ever heard of a town not having Christmas lights?"

The next Berkeley Town Council meeting will be held this Monday (7.30pm) in the town hall.