Anger over lack of Christmas lights in High Street

Businesses owners are worried there will not be Christmas lights in the High Street for at least five years

A row has erupted in a town after its High Street was left out of plans for Christmas lights by councillors.

Festive illuminations will be turned on in several locations across Great Dunmow in Essex on 14 November, but the main shopping road has been omitted.

High Street florist Stephanie Harris said she was "furious" that footfall would be taken away at a "critical time" of year.

But Great Dunmow Town Council argued the existing light fixtures available on the road were a safety risk.

About £228,000 has been committed to Christmas lighting over the next five years.

During this period, lights have been planned for Market Place, Angel Lane, Star Lane, at the war memorial and Doctors Pond.

But the council plans to fix the issues in the High Street and make it safe, a spokesperson has said.

Lights have been installed on High Street shopfronts in protest by the Great Dunmow Town Team

"Christmas is a critical time for us and we need to ensure that we've got as much footfall in the town as possible," Ms Harris said.

"They'll be taking people away from the High Street, so it's a crazy decision."

Volunteers from the Great Dunmow Town Team - made up of business owners - installed lights on shopfronts on Sunday of their own accord.

Ms Harris said Christmas spirits had been dampened and shops would "look like this poor relative who hasn't paid their electricity bill".

"[People] think the council, as I do, should be ashamed of themselves for having made this decision," she added.

"It has created bad feeling and a lack of trust between us and the council, which was entirely unnecessary and entirely preventable."

Jack Coleman, the council's deputy clerk, said there were businesses who were happy with the lights plan

But the council hit back, accusing the town team of spreading "misinformation" and having "acted in bad faith at every stage" of the process.

"The council does not believe the town team speak for the businesses who have expressed positive remarks about the lighting scheme this year," it added.

"[The High Street] was not excluded, it was reprioritised due to safety concerns and the need to deliver a viable and safe scheme."

A safety report produced for the council concluded existing infrastructure in the High Street had failed and could not be used for cross-street displays, the spokesperson also said.