Lights switch-on saved after 'Grinch decision'

A Christmas lights switch-on event in a Warwickshire village has been saved after a "Grinch decision" by the council to withdraw some funding.

Volunteers have raised about £5,500 to fund Bulkington's event after Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council decided to remove funds for staffing and management.

Richard Smith, borough councillor for the village, said the switch-on remained an "important event for the village".

A spokesperson for the council said it had only withdrawn £2,000 and had still committed £22,500 to provide and install the village's Christmas lights.

The event will take place on Friday, featuring about 40 traders and a visit from the Nuneaton Grinch.

Mr Smith said: "They’re definitely a Grinch and I think they've lost the message of how important this is.

"Two thousand pounds is not a lot of money in the big context, so I'm not sure why the decision was made, but it was definitely a Grinch decision."

Ruth Ramshaw, from the Bulkington Volunteers Committee, said the group had worked hard to raise the funds to run the event.

"It's meant quite a few meetings and quite a bit of time," she said.

"We've managed to raise about £5,500 but we have exceeded the fundraising target that we had and so the event will go ahead."

Council 'cannot favour' Bulkington

A spokesperson for the council said they were "delighted" that the event was still happening.

"There are many villages in Nuneaton and Bedworth other than Bulkington and other wards that could reasonably expect to have a Christmas light switch-on event but do not," the spokesperson said.

"Our approach to all community groups needs to be consistent.

"The council cannot favour one area over another.

"We are keen to help and support local community groups and activities, but resources are stretched and going forward the council needs to ensure that taxpayers' money is spent wisely."