Christmas has been cancelled in an Aberdeenshire town because the group which organises its festive fun events has folded.
Members of Ellon Community Council resigned en masse – effectively pulling the plug on the annual lights display, fireworks show, yuletide parade and visit from Santa.
The Christmas lights switch-on event has been running for more than a decade an attracts thousands of people every year.
It had been due to be held on November 19.
And last night the town’s Aberdeenshire councillors and other local people were trying to put together a rescue package.
The community council members quit after claiming they had been told by the local authority the body had “insufficient numbers” to continue operating.
The minimum number of community council members required in Aberdeenshire is 10, but the Ellon group’s membership fell to just eight on September 30.
Former chairman, Peter Mackie, claimed the local authority had left them in a position where members were unable to “make decisions” or use funds.
He said this meant the group could not continue to organise the Christmas event.
However, local councillors hit back at the claim and said the talks between the community council and the council were at an early stage when its members decided to stand down.
They said any decision to shut down a community council would have to be discussed by the local authority’s Formartine area committee before being debated by a full meeting of Aberdeenshire Council.
Mr Mackie added the decision to resign and cancel the event was taken with “great thought and sadness”.
He said: “We tried to find a way around this. If we can’t spend money to make decisions we can’t go on. We were unable to spend the money. It made is impossible for it to go ahead.
“We don’t want to walk away from that but don’t want to sit on our hands and not be able to do the Christmas lights.”
Chairman of the Formartine area committee and Ellon and District councillor Rob Merson has now joined forces with other local elected members to back “alternative arrangements” which will allow the Christmas event to continue this year.
He claimed many of the community council’s claims “would appear to have little basis in fact”.
SNP member Mr Merson said: “The matter is currently the subject of an inquiry by the Formartine area manager, who has been assisting the community council with a number of issues over recent months – and has my full support.
“I would very much hope that alternative arrangements can be put in place to ensure the continuity of the Ellon Christmas lights display and the Christmas parade this year.”
Fellow Ellon councillor, Conservative Gillian Owen, said: “I am saddened and distressed that the ex-Ellon Community Council people feel they have to resign.
“They have not been shut down by Aberdeenshire Council. Aberdeenshire Council cannot shut a community council down within 24 hours. There is a process that has to be followed to shut them down.”
She vowed to do “anything” to get the Christmas event “up and running”.
Council co-leader and SNP councillor for the area, Richard Thomson, said: “It’s very disappointing that the remaining community council members have decided to resign en masse, but it should be made clear that the decision to do so was theirs alone.
“There was no reason why, even with their reduced numbers, the community council could not have gone ahead with this event which has always been a huge credit to all involved.
“Right now, the short term priority must be to ensure that the Ellon Christmas events can go ahead as far as is now possible.”
Lib Dem councillor for Ellon and District, Isobel Davidson, said: “It is really disappointing they have all resigned from the community council, they had been struggling to recruit members for quite a while now.
“The Christmas lights is a really popular family event and it really brings folk into the town. It would be very disappointing if it didn’t go ahead.”
Elsewhere in Aberdeenshire, the Mid Deeside Community Council (MDCC) is on the brink of collapse due to a lack of members.
A full meeting of Aberdeenshire Council will decide on its future this Wednesday.
Councillors will consider whether to back the decision of the Marr area committee on September 27 to “dissolve” the MDCC.
The group was suspended for four months in January this year after members sent e-mails, which the local authority considered disrespectful, to Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside councillor, Geva Blackett.
However its chairman, Keith Bennett, is fighting to keep the MDCC going.
Former member of the Peterhead Community Council, Stephen Calder, said it had faced in a similar situation to the Ellon group after its membership dropped below 10 – forcing it to disband in August.
He said this had left them unable to function as an organisation, but is still hopeful it can reform in the future.
The local historian said “fresh blood” could be the saviour of the port’s community council.
Mr Calder added: “Community councils have been struggling for quite some time. I have been a member for only three years, it didn’t seem to be doing very much.
“If your community council is below 10, I think there is a problem.
“We are just waiting for Aberdeenshire Council to call fresh elections. There is a bit of a revival of interest in the town with regards to regeneration.
“There is interest in the town, it is not that people are apathetic. They don’t see any kind of body to express their views through at the moment.
“The community council just hasn’t been fulfilling its purpose. If we could get younger folk along, we need fresh blood. It would be good if we got younger folk with fresh ideas.”
