WELLINGTON Town Council decided at its May meeting to stick to its decision that the annual switch-on of the town’s Christmas lights should take place on Saturday, December 3.

The original decision was made in April after councillors had been told that following a joint meeting local traders had asked for the switch-on to held a fortnight earlier on Saturday, November 19, as this would give them six trading Saturdays before Christmas.

But councillors felt this was too early to have the usual carol singing and Christmas message. Their view was that the switch-on should be able to reflect the Christmas theme.

Asking the council to reconsider its decision, traders suggested that the switch-on of the lights could take place on November 19 with a separate nativity and carol event in the town centre on December 3 to tie in with the opening of the Celebration of Light at the Quaker Meeting House in High Street.

Cllr Bill Sparrow said that if the traders wished to have their own way about the lights then they should make a contribution to the cost. “At the moment they do not make a contribution,” he said.

The decision to stick to December 3 for the switch on was carried nine to three.

The cost of the Christmas lights is the biggest single item in the town council’s budget. Last year the total was £13,746 but the council received a grant of £7,000 from the Deane towards it. A similar amount is expected for the financial year which ended on March 31 2016 but it is thought future grants are likely to be reduced or even axed as the Deane seeks to cut its expenditure following government reductions in aid for district councils.