Row ‘not linked’ to yule cash
Friday 19th October 2007, 6:45AM BST.
A Ludlow town councillor has hit out at claims the council’s troubles over the past six months are to blame for its hugely reduced Christmas lights budget.
The council is budgeting to spend £5,000 on decorating the town this Christmas – compared to up to £27,000 in previous years.
But Derek Davies, town councillor, says he has been contacted by people unhappy with the news the town will not shine as brightly, believing it is connected with the problems the council has had in recent months, which resulted in several councillors quitting.
He says issues behind the budget cut are things like rising costs and health and safety, which are national problems affecting all councils.
This year, lighting is likely to be restricted to Market Square and the adjacent Events Square only. Late Night Ludlow which saw shops staying open for three nights a week has also been dropped because of the low turnout last year.
Mr Davies said: “The issue with the Christmas lights has nothing to do with the problems the council has had over the last six months. External issues such as the environment are affecting it.”
Ludlow Food Festival, the Chamber of Trade and The Town Centre Residents’ Association have all agreed to add £300 each towards the cost of this year’s lights.
The proposed budget will go forward to the council’s markets, amenities and cemetery committee meeting on Monday.
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I am a Ludlow resident and no longer shop in Ludlow!
I usually travel to Leominster or shop online as Ludlow has become a laughing stock locally as well as nationally and with the restrictive parking, poor choice of items and expensive prices it seems that Ludlow councillors and businesses are just interested in the tourist Dollar!
I am looking forward to the next instalment of “Ludlow Council -I wanna argue & wotya gonna do about it?”
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ok, so councillor Davies would have us believe that the £30,000 spent earlier in the year in puruance of personal vendettas will not affect spending on the Christmas lights…perhaps he would like to tell us what that expenditure will affect?
or are we to understand that ludlow town council has that sort of spare money floating around in its coffers? I think we should be told…
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