Festival lights saved this year in Northamptonshire town
- Published
Diwali is a festival of light celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains
Christmas and Diwali lights in a Northamptonshire town are to continue this year with cash contributions by shops and the local Hindu Association.
Wellingborough councillors are looking at options to ensure the display can continue for the festivals next year.
Options include buying new lights costing £31,000 to replace a set which is 10 years old and in need of repair.
The town could also lease lights at an annual cost of £13,000. The borough council will decide on 18 October.
This year the lights will be switched on for a week for Diwali on 22 October, and Christmas lights in early December.
About £2,500 is needed each year to power the displays and an additional £8,000 is required for putting them up and taking them down.
New lights would be LED models to cut energy consumption by about half, the council said.
Graham Lawman, chairman of the development committee, said: "The festival lights in the town centre are important and we would like them to continue.
"Obviously times are hard and budgets are being cut, but the festival lights do bring people into the town.
"We just need to find a way to keep the display, but on a smaller budget."