We need your support to save Exeter's Christmas lights
EXETER faces having no Christmas lights in the High Street this year because the city's major stores are refusing to pay for them.
The cash-strapped city council wrote to traders asking them to contribute to the festive lights more than a month ago.
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It explained that it could not afford to fund them this year because of budget constraints.
But with time running out it has so far received little response.
And council leaders said the city will not get a display this year unless there is a sudden change of heart.
The Echo is calling on store bosses to stump up the money needed for the lights.
We are urging readers to fill in the form below to help ensure the popular display goes ahead as usual.
The forms will be presented to the council to help in its negotiations with stores.
Show your support for Exeter's Christmas lights by filling out the form below.
Click here to read the full story.
Comments
by irmuk
Monday, October 17 2011, 8:48PM
“It would be a shame if there are not any Christmas lights in the City centre streets. I remember what I guess was a similar situation in the late 1970s/early 1980's when we didn't have any lights for several years.
That is what will happen again if it doesn't get paid for now. It won't be just this year, it will probably be many years before we get them back again if this years are cancelled.
I just hope that, if we do not have them this year, that businesses, especially the major high street retailers, will realise that without them they will lose out on income because people will go elsewhere, especially if they have children, or just shop on-line, but I fear that next year they will just say that spending was down for Christmas 2011 because everybody's feeling the pinch and not attribute dip to the lack of lights.
Budgets have to be cut. I understand that, but at least have the lights even if you don't have a big switch on ceremony with fireworks as in previous years. That would cut down on the over-all cost whilst still brightening up the City Centre and attracting customers in to do their Christmas shopping instead of going to Torquay or Plymouth etc., assuming they've got lights this year.”