Cost of Christmas lights switch-on tripled in a year
Worcester City Council decided not to hold a stand-alone switch-on event in the city centre this year, as it has done in previous years
The cost of holding an event to switch on Worcester’s Christmas lights tripled in just 12 months.
Worcester City Council decided not to hold a stand-alone switch-on event in the city centre this year, as it has done in previous years.
Instead, the lights were switched on quietly towards the end of November and mayor Matt Lamb switched on Cathedral Square’s Christmas tree lights on the first night of the Victorian fayre.
A Freedom of Information request has revealed the decision to axe the stand-alone event was made by managing director David Blake.
This followed a review of Worcester’s events calendar, which said resources would be focussed on the events that make the biggest impact.
At a place and economic development committee meeting back in June, museums manager Philippa Tinsley said council cuts meant it had fewer “boots on the ground” to put on events.
She said extra resources would be made available for the Worcester Show and Victorian Fayre, which are seen as key priorities.
“But everything else, we’re going to be looking at how we can manage it in the most efficient way going forward,” she said.
Cllr Adrian Gregson said the review was not forward-thinking enough.
Mr Blake said it would not “be carried out in isolation” and would involve councillors.
“The important thing is for us to understand what we can and can’t do as an organisaiton and what we can contribute to, in terms of helping others deliver events.”
Figures obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service show the cost of putting on the Christmas lights switch-on event in 2023 was £5,389.
This included a bill of £2,244 for security at the event, £300 for medical cover and £1,000 for traffic management.
Costs for the 2024 event skyrocketed to £15,058 despite the switch-on being cancelled at the last minute due to bad weather.
The cost of “advance warning road closure signs” and diversions was £7,892 and the price of “stewarding and security” had spiralled to £6,799.
Many residents expressed their disappointment the lights switch-on didn’t go ahead this year, with Siobhan Louise saying her children were “gutted” their annual tradition of attending wasn’t going to happen.
Some people suggested Worcester BID takes over the running of the event, as has happened in other towns and cities.