RDC turns to Chamber on Christmas lights

Cllr Angharad Davies, of Crowhurst, said switching the lights off was "a simple way we could save some money," but Cabinet members still voted to keep the lights. The contract was renewed for one year instead of three.

Cllr Carl Maynard, of Brede Valley ward, said the 60,000 cost of a three-year contract would "send out the wrong message to Bexhill residents."

And he called for the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce to contribute more cash towards the cost of lighting, saying: "Perhaps the Chamber is going to have to step up to the plate a bit more than they already do."

Cllr Deirdre Williams, of Sackville ward, said: "We have to be careful what we agree to at the moment even though this is a special expense to Bexhill.

"It's been said to me that the Chamber should spend some money on this as they do in other authorities. But I know the Chamber feels it supports the town through the market in the autumn."

A spokesman for the Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism said they supported the Christmas late night shopping event through adverts, posters and street entertainment, as well as a host of other events including the Bexhill Festival of Music, the Bexhill Achievers' Awards and the accommodation board on Marina.

For the next two years, the Chamber will also support the launch of the Bexhill Motoring Heritage Trail.

Pointing to RDC's "crippling" recent hike in business rates, the Chamber said: "These monies are not ringfenced for the benefit of the district's commercial sector but are spent at RDC's discretion; such as the array of blue lights draped over the Town Hall at Christmas.

"The Chamber respectfully asks that some of Rother's increased business rates revenue is used to pay for the town's Christmas lights. Bexhill Chamber's few members simply do not have the financial means to pay for the lights for the many. And unfortunately many of the town's traders simply do not have the money to pay the hefty new rates bills. Hence all the empty shops."

Last year, the total cost of installing the lights was 18,827, including 40 lamp column features in Devonshire and Sackville Roads and a series of festoon lights in Western Road, Wickham Avenue and St Leonards Road. The Town Hall lights cost 1,680, excluding VAT.

Leader of the Lib Dems, Cllr Sue Prochak, called for a public consultation on the lights when the contract comes up for renewal.