THE annual switch on of the Christmas lights in Wellington will be a little later than usual.

Wellington Town Council, who spend £12,000 on providing and erecting the illuminations, decided this at its April meeting.

The switch on will take place on Saturday, 3 December, which is the start of Saturday free parking in Wellington.

Councillors heard that at a joint meeting local traders had suggested that the switch on should be Saturday 19 November as this would give six weeks of trading before Christmas and which would be a week earlier than the usual time.

However members felt that this was much too early.  Cllr Gloria Copley said that 19 November was too early: it was nothing to do with Christmas.

She was supported by Cllr Vivienne Stock-Williams who said it would take Christmas out of the story with an early switch on.  It would be like a winter switch on, not Christmas.

Cllr Andy Govier also felt the suggested date was much too early.  He pointed out that the £12,000 the council spent on the Christmas lights was about 10 per cent of its annual budget.  It was important that traders realised how much the council spent on the festive lights.  "We get very little if any support from the  banks and multiple stores in the town," he said.  "They should use some of their hospitality budget to put lights up at their premises. It would make the town look very nice."

Cllr Janet Reed pointed out that some traders had tree brackets outside their premises and she hoped they would put up illuminated Christmas trees.

It was stated that her point would be taken up at another meeting with local traders.

The four free parking Saturdays - provided by Taunton Deane Borough Council - will be 3, 10, 17 and 24 December.

The vote in favour of a 3 December switch on rather than 19 November was carried by seven votes to two.