Belfast City Council has no plans to end Christmas lights burning a hole in ratepayers’ pockets amid rising energy costs.
ity Hall will kick off the festive season in five weeks with an ‘enchanted evening’ of music, dance, animation and street performers to accompany the grand switch on.
A spokesman said the council intended to build on the success of last year’s celebrations.
“There are no plans to reduce the time and number of Christmas illuminations in the city center yet,” they added.
“In line with efforts to reduce carbon emissions, this year’s festive program will include elements such as a sustainable packaging station and a gift bank.”
A veteran UUP councilor has vowed to do everything “humanly possible” to cut the electricity bill, raising questions about how the council is going to do it.
Jim Rogers said it’s important to make sure the Christmas spirit isn’t clouded by a bleak economic landscape.
He also emphasized the importance of finding a balance between lavish spending and behaving like Ebenezer Scrooge.
“It’s still a couple of weeks before the lighting is installed,” Mr Rogers said.
Christmas exhibition near the city hall in 2020
“We, as elected members, will ensure value for money. We’ll do everything we can to keep costs down, but also to make sure Christmas doesn’t get any smaller.”
Mr Rogers said no councilor wanted to be responsible for spoiling the festive season for people who had had a tough year.
“Belfast City Council is always keen to ensure that money is spent wisely,” he added.
“We will not waste money, putting light where it is not needed.
“Everybody needs a ride for Christmas. This is a very important time of the year. [but it] it can be very lonely for some. Its celebration brings people together.”
Mr Rogers said he was not aware of any proposals to reduce the lighting of the displays. “At the moment I am not aware of any plans to reduce backlighting, but I have no doubt that drastic energy costs will be taken into account,” he added.
“No one at Belfast City Council wants money to be wasted.”
The news comes just weeks after it was revealed that the Land and Property Services (LPS) has launched action to ensure courts can pursue people who can’t afford to pay their big bills this winter.
It also follows concerns that Newry, Morne and Down District Council’s £240,000 Christmas lights budget could soar by tens of thousands of pounds.
Mr Rogers sympathized with business owners who may be furious to see their hard-earned cash being burnt outside the premises they are struggling to keep open.
But he was adamant it was “vital” that Christmas in the city was not cancelled.
Mr Rogers said: “People are unhappy because they are struggling financially.
“They’ve had a really tough year and we don’t want it to get any worse.”
