Town's Christmas lights secured after funding fears

Christmas lights will be installed in a North Yorkshire seaside town after concerns were raised earlier about how they would be funded.

Scarborough Town Council has been handed responsibility for its festive illuminations, which had previously been paid for by North Yorkshire Council.

After being gifted a "significant amount of string light braids" by Scarborough Fair, the lights would be delivered under budget, councillors have been told.

A £29,000 contract will see Acorn Lighting Services, based in Selby, test and install the infrastructure and remove the Christmas lights after the festive season.

Earlier this year, the town council set aside up to £70,000 for the provision of Christmas lights in a budget passed in January, although councillors hoped a grant or extra funding would reduce this figure.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the lights plan covers Westborough by the station, Newborough and Eastborough, as well as the previously used lights at Ramshill and Falsgrave.

Reform town mayor Thomas Murray said: "Crucially, Scarborough Town Council will own the lights.

"Instead of paying year after year to lease everything at increasing costs and ending up back at square one, we are building something that belongs to Scarborough and can be used again and again."

The lights plan was passed unanimously by the town council, which Murray said was in "the Christmas spirit".

Independent councillor Rich Maw said: "A big thank you to Scarborough Fair for their contribution towards making this happen.

"North Yorkshire Council no longer provides the Christmas lights, so things may look a little different this year as the town council takes on this responsibility.

"Hopefully, this investment will give us a good base to build on in future years."

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