Fears have been raised over whether Crowthorne can have Christmas lights going forward, as funding has dried up for safety testing.
Fears have been raised about whether Crowthorne can keep its Christmas lights after Bracknell Forest Council said it will no longer fund safety testing of lamp posts next year.
Each year the village is lit up for the festive season and hosts a late-night Christmas shopping event and market stalls that draw hundreds of residents. This year’s event will take place from 5pm to 7.30pm.
The issue was raised at a full meeting of Bracknell Forest Council by Nicholas Robertson (Conservative, Crowthorne).
He said: "At Christmas time, Crowthorne Parish Council had consent and support from Bracknell Forest Council to display ‘Shop Crowthorne – Love Crowthorne’ banner flags and Union Jack flags from January to November and Christmas light motifs in December."
He added: "The formalities and cost of periodic structural testing of the lamp columns have been undertaken and borne by Bracknell Forest Council."
Councillor Robertson contrasted Crowthorne with Bracknell town centre: "Bracknell Town Council has confirmed they do not pay for any structural tests on Bracknell Forest Council or Lexicon lampposts: the council and the Lexicon pay those charges. Crowthorne is being treated differently (less favourably) from an economic development perspective than Bracknell town centre. Surely the economic support should extend to Crowthorne’s primary retail locations too, the only High Street in the Borough, not just Bracknell."
He asked: "Would you please assure Crowthorne Parish Council that Bracknell Forest Council will continue to meet the cost of the structural tests to lamp posts in Crowthorne, as has previously been the case and be commensurate with Bracknell Town and demonstrate Fair Funding?"
Bracknell Forest Council must electrically test street lights every six years. Councillor Paul Bidwell (Labour, Easthampstead & Wildridings), cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said no column testing is due this year but eight columns will need testing next year, and, because of funding limits, the parish council must pay for it.
Cllr Bidwell said: "The Borough Council have supported a great many activities in Crowthorne over the past five years, with many officer hours supporting events and activities to support the local economy in partnership with the Parish Council." He added officers will revisit the matter once it is clear what grant funding may be available to the parish council, and noted funding for The Lexicon lights comes from the shopping centre itself and a grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The exchange took place at the full council meeting on Wednesday, November 26.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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