The Mayor of Nantwich has called for a Christmas Lights “clear the air” summit with her Crewe Town Council counterpart.
Cllr Christine Farrall’s request to meet with Crewe Mayor Cllr Pam Minshull is the latest twist in the “fairylightsgate” controversy.
The move also comes as Nantwich Town Council has announced more investment in its Christmas 2014 displays around the town.
Crewe Town Council believes a set of lights they used in 2013 should be returned to them after they were donated by Cheshire East Council to Nantwich.
Cheshire East says Crewe indicated they no longer needed them, and Nantwich say they accepted the Christmas lights in good faith.
Nantwichnews revealed how a letter issued last week by Crewe Town Council leader Cllr Kevin Hickson indicated they could take legal action to try and retrieve the lights, or instruct contractors to rip them down if they were put on display in Nantwich.
But Nantwich Mayor Cllr Farrall said today: “The council has invested about £25,000 in the Christmas lights switch-on over the last two years as part of its support for the retail economy in the town.
“It now designs the scheme using its own lights and erects the displays itself following with the ending of a private contract last year.
“Last year’s event was a great success with thousands packed into the town centre for switch-on by celebrity TV Vet Steve Leonard and we hope this year will be even better.
“Nantwich Town Council has acted in good faith on the strength of the offer of lights from Cheshire East and has incurred considerable expense in finding storage space within council premises.
“Although they can’t be used without repair it is hoped to renovate the lights using our own staff to enhance the existing displays.
“The council has the expertise to bring them up to standard and we thought this was a great opportunity to recycle them instead of throwing them away.”
Cllr Hickson, Leader of Crewe Town Council, said: “We welcome the comments from Cllr Farrall and the prospect of a dialogue over the future of the Crewe illuminations.
“We understand Nantwich Town Council has been placed in an awkward position and we are keen to help find a way to ensure there are successful Christmas events in both towns.
“There is an urgent need for this to be settled so that both organisations can put in place the practical arrangements for our respective events.”
Councillors and retailers in Nantwich have agreed to buy small Christmas trees and solar powered lights over shop frontages as part of its year on year improvement to the festive display.
It will cost an additional £2,400 for 150 sets of trees and lights.
This adds to the £2,700 which was approved in May for the replacement of over road lights with string displays.
(pic Nantwich Christmas Lights switch-on 2013, by Jonathan White)
Never mind fairy lights at Christmas switch our road lighting back on !!!!!
This is crazy! Glad that my council tax bill is going to such an important issue as Christmas Lights. I will be making my complaint to both councils and advise them to stop “spitting their dummy’s out” and try and get along like adults. These people are meant to be looking after our interest and look what their main concern is. Forget about crime, energy, over housing and the economy. It seems the lights are the main concern!!!!! What a waste of time!!!