Towns across the north-east could go dark next Christmas if they are forced to pay for the electricity their festive lights use.
Community groups across Aberdeenshire buy, maintain and erect their Christmas lights to add some cheer to town centres, covering the costs through fundraising.
But now Aberdeenshire Council wants to charge the groups for the electricity costs too – in a move which would save just £11,000 a year.
Last night, the shock new plans were branded a “burden” for the volunteers.
Peterhead councillor Stephen Smith said it was “small price” for the council to pay.
“Our local communities do a lot to raise money to finance the Christmas lights displays, maintain them, get them up and take them back down again,” he said.
“That’s a lot of work for volunteers to do and I think it’s only right that the council continues to make a contribution by way of meeting the electricity costs.
“The amounts we’re talking about in each community are fairly small and I think it’s a small price to pay for the festive displays which enahance our towns and villages each year.”
Councillor Anne Allan added: “To ask them to find extra money for the cost of electricity would be an additional burden on their resources and fundraising efforts.”
Ann Bell is the chairwoman of Festive Frozen Fraserburgh, which is responsible for the town’s lights.
The group is also currently fundraising to bring an ice rink to Fraserburgh to add to the festivities.
She said: “Community groups are trying to hard that the towns and villages are prepared for Christmas and are helping to ensure that the economy is good.
“For the likes of us, trying to bring an ice rink to Fraserburgh, it’s going to make things far more difficult if we are burdened with extra charges.
“We have had the support of the whole community, but these extra charges will make some think ‘what is the point?’ We’d really like the council to rethink its policy.”
A spokesman for the group which has organised the lights in Ellon this year said he was unaware of the proposed changes.
He said: “What’s a couple of hundred pounds to the council, really?
“But I can see both sides of the argument. It isn’t something that would stop me from getting on with it, personally.”
Last night, Aberdeenshire Council said the money saved through making groups pay for their own energy would allow for extra cash to be spent on road maintenance and streetlights.
Ewan Wallace, the authority’s head of transport, said: “The policy is also intended to create a consistent approach across our many communities to allow the council to control future costs associated with lighting displays.
“Officers recognise groups who put displays in place will have to look at the impact of paying for energy costs on their future fundraising and this may impact on the extent of such displays in our town centres – that is why we are seeking opinions from councillors and
community councils on this, including proposed transitional arrangements.
“Views will be taken into account when the infrastructure services committee considers the policy at its meeting on November 30.”
