CHRISTMAS lights displays have been cancelled as councils across the UK battle budget cuts.
Bolton, Braintree, Medway and Beaminster are just a few of the places that will not be putting up Christmas lights this year.
2
The move has been dubbed “the great Christmas light switch-off” – as councils across the UK desperately try to save money amid the cost of living crisis.
Bournemouth Council had to scrap a number of their Christmas lights display, as it tries to manage the £44 million hole in their finances.
Medway Council in Kent also pulled the plug on its annual festive light display.
Medway Council say the decision to cancel the event “will save £75,000.”
Medway Council leader Vince Maple said: “We are making these incredibly difficult decisions to reduce the potential overspend and to ensure we can continue to provide essential services that we are required to provide by law.”
Bolton will not have a Christmas lights switch on this year.
And it is the fourth time residents will miss on the sparkling street lights – with last event held in 2019.
The council cancelled the previous events due to the pandemic.
Instead, Bolton Council will host an alternative Christmas programme with the “aim to provide residents and visitors a variety of free and low-cost Christmas activities.”
Elsewhere, Glasgow’s Elfingrove has also been cancelled after organisers felt uncomfortable with the necessary rises in ticket prices to fund the event.
Last year 120,000 people visited the famous winter wonderland site and one of the UK’s largest Ice rink.
The event has been affected by “inflation and skyrocketing prices across the supply chain.”
Event organisers said: “We have decided to put this years show on ice while we work on an even more magical new event that will elevate Glasgow Christmas in future.”
The wave of cancellations has also hit several Christmas markets – including Worsley in Manchester.
It comes as Bonfire Night was cancelled across the country as budget cuts and expensive fireworks slash popular events.
Manchester, Nottingham, Norwich and Glasgow are just some of the areas axing Guy Fawkes displays due to financial strains.
Meanwhile, museum bosses removed word ‘Christmas’ from their festive market to make it more inclusive.
The annual Christmas market at Bowes Museum is now known as a Winter Market.
2
