Town councillors have rubberstamped a £500 contribution to maintain the Christmas lights for this year.

To send a link to this page to a friend, simply enter their email address below.

The message will include the name and email address you gave us when you signed up.

Email address

  Send link

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

Last Christmas, the Chamber of Commerce spent £1,250 on maintaining the lights.

The bill for next Christmas is expected to come to £3,800- and they have just £300 in the kitty.

Acting chairman of the chamber Terry Pearce said: “The last (lights) purchase was approximately six years ago…

“We have made do since by heavy reliance on our ‘sparky’ John Shiels who has kept them going by mixing and matching (the bulbs).”

The chamber took on the lights 25 years ago and he added: “The ongoing cost is substantial, therefore any donations… would be gratefully received.

“They looked great again last Christmas and drew many positive, praiseworthy comments and certainly brightened the town and the faces of the youngsters.”

Councillor Caz Sismore-Hunt said: “We don’t want to go down the route of Exmouth.

“Without lights, Exmouth was such a depressing place at Christmas.”

Councillor Tony Gooding suggested a grant of £1,000 and councillor Lynda Evans said if that was granted, the chamber should not ask for money next year.

Mayor Dick Mitchell said: “I would hope that they would not come back for the next five years to be honest with you. I just think £1,000 is a lot of money.”

Deputy Mayor Courtney Mitchell suggested £500: “I don’t think the council should tie itself into an ongoing commitment.”