Traders blasted as council picks up festive lights bill

Rother District Council agreed on Monday to meet the full cost of town centre lighting this winter.

There had been fears Rother's cabinet would reduce or axe the town centre lights due to the increased cost of installation and maintenance.

However, councillors want to negotiate an alternative solution with traders or other groups within a year.

Some members had strong words for Bexhill's Chamber of Commerce and Tourism over the affair.

Cllr Robert White demanded the chamber 'get their act together.'

The chamber have said they will not assume responsibility for the lights due to a lack of financial resources and manpower.

Rother's annual budget allocates 15,000 for festive lights but last year's lights cost 23,000 to maintain, leaving an 8,000 shortfall.

Cabinet agreed to pick up the difference from uncommitted reserves. The money will be repaid as a special expense on Bexhill's Council Tax for next year.

Options before cabinet also included meeting the cost of outsourcing the implementation of a new scheme, reducing the lighting by around 50 per cent and withdrawing all funding.

Rother leader Graham Gubby said: "It gives us 12 months to try and energise the town and find a better way of doing this. Bexhill will still be paying but we don't just turn the lights out on Christmas this year."

Cllr White said: "The response of Bexhill Chamber of Commerce is hugely disappointing because Battle Chamber of Commerce has been involved for many years with Christmas lighting. It's in their interest - it encourages people to come and shop there.

"They really do need to get their act together though, like Battle Chamber of Commerce do."

Rother's representative on Bexhill chamber, Cllr Deirdre Williams, disagreed.

She said: "The Bexhill chamber feel they are unable to make a contribution financially. The French market costs them quite a bit of money and they just don't have the funds."

Cllr Gubby refused to criticise the chamber directly and felt a host of organisations should be asked to contribute. He added: "It is something the whole town should sign up to."