Council urged to reverse 'Scrooge' cuts and fund Christmas lights for communities across Edinburgh

COUNCIL bosses are being urged to reverse four-year-old "Scrooge" cuts and reinstate cash for Christmas lights in communities across Edinburgh in bid to brighten up people’s lives in grim times.

The council is being urged to fund Christmas lights in communities across the Capital

Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs is calling for the restoration of festive funding which was pulled from community councils including Portobello, Corstorphine, Morningside, Tollcross, Davidson's Mains and South Queensferry in 2016.

The council has called off all the high-profile Edinburgh’s Christmas events which normally attract crowds to the city centre, but Mr Briggs wants the authority to pay for Christmas lights and a Christmas tree in each local community.

He said: “We all know how bleak the dark nights and winter months can be and with more people shopping locally it’s important to brighten up our communities this Christmas.

“Edinburgh council have the opportunity to redeem themselves this year, with the Christmas Market being cancelled, to reintroduce Christmas lights funding and provide a Christmas tree in each local community across the Capital.

“This has been an incredibly challenging year for people and we do not know what restrictions will be in place come Christmas.

“It will be more important than ever this winter to spread Christmas cheer with many of us potentially not able to see loved ones in person.

“With fewer people travelling into the centre of Edinburgh, investing in local communities, with support of local businesses, will be important for making this Christmas a special one.”

The idea was backed by Geoff Lynn, former chair of Portobello community council. “It would be very welcome if the high street was given a boost in that way. It has been a terrible time for anyone running a high street business, whether you're a retailer or a pub or a restaurant. Anything we can do to brighten things up and encourage people onto the street would be great.”

A council spokesman said new lights had been purchased this year for Cockburn Street, Victoria Street and the City Chambers balustrade and there were plans to plant permanent Christmas trees in various locations across the city next year. “We’ll be continuing to work closely with communities across Edinburgh to ensure their neighbourhoods are lit up and will have dozens of trees sparkling across the city.”

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