Christmas lights to light up once more (From Gazette Series)

Christmas lights to light up once more

A CHRISTMAS switch-on in Berkeley is back on the cards this week, after business and civic leaders met to discuss funding for the festive lights.

Town councillors and representatives from Berkeley's chamber of trade converged on the town council's monthly meeting on Monday to discuss who should pay for the Christmas decorations.

Last week the Gazette reported that Berkeley Chamber of Trade was appalled by the council's surprise decision not to fund this year's festive lights.

The chamber was also annoyed that responsibility for the lights had, in their opinion and without consultation, been passed to them.

At Monday's meeting Tracey Ide, representing the chamber, stressed the strength of feeling amongst traders.

"How can you come to a decision about something that concerns the town and say it is not your business?" she asked.

Council chairman Ralf Pinnell, replied: "As far as we're concerned the chamber of trade is doing them the lights."

The council defended its decision not to organise or pay for the annual Christmas switch-on by stating that before the chamber of trade had been dissolved several years ago, the group had always been in charge of the lights.

Now the chamber had been re-established the council had assumed it would take on the responsibility again.

Mrs Ide explained that the chamber would be willing to organise the festive lights but added that it would be unable to fund the whole cost and could certainly not afford new lights.

Council clerk Debbie Burrow said: "The chamber of trade has not come to Berkeley Town Council to ask for help officially.

"If a proposal had been made any time in the last year then it would have been put on the agenda and discussed."

It was then agreed that although it was now too late to organise a significant lighting display in the town this year, both the council and the chamber would contribute to buying new lights.

Cllr Val Watts said: "Because of the short time perhaps we could have one or two Christmas trees around the town so as to avoid disappointment."

Mrs Ide said she would report back to the chamber of trade and put in a written request to the council for financial help.