Christmas light switch-ons cancelled by council

Town centres will not get any help from Havering council for Christmas lights displays this year

Christmas light switch-ons have been cancelled by an east London council due to insufficient funds.

Havering Council said financial constraints meant it would also not be able to provide trees in Romford and Collier Row this year.

Romford Business Improvement District (BID) group, which works with business owners to enhance the neighbourhood, will provide a tree for the town, the council said.

Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, said the council had been "very public" about its need to make savings.

The cash-strapped council began the financial year with a £32.5m budget deficit and said it was making "tough" cuts across services.

Mr Morgon said: "In our last budget, because of the urgent need to make savings, the council sadly agreed it could no longer deliver Christmas lights and trees in our town centres.

"We have no choice due to the year on year government reductions in funding and the escalating costs in social care and homelessness."

He said the council would work with town centres to help them plan their own events and find sponsorship.

Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford, told the Havering Daily he was "appalled" by the council’s decision.

A spokesperson for the Havering Residents' Association (HRA) said: "Havering Council made it clear when setting the budget in February that funding for Christmas would have to stop due to the budget gap between income and the increase in demand for services.

"Since then community groups, local businesses and HRA Councillors and HRA team members have been organising Christmas events across the borough."

The group added that the lights were provided by contractors and trees needed to be purchased.

Events have been planned in Upminster, Mardyke, Elm Park, Rainham and Harold Hill, with details yet to be released.

BID director Julie Frost told the Romford Recorder its Christmas plans for the town were yet to be finalised.

Havering council added that further details about town centre events would be announced in due course.