Tyldesley residents slam town’s Christmas lights display made up of ‘half-working’ lights stuck to a lamppost
DESPAIRING residents have branded their town centre a "laughing stock" because of its "half-working" Christmas lights and tiny tree.
People in the town of Tyldesley in Wigan have said the standard of Christmas decorations in their town has gone "downhill year after year".
More than 300 people have signed a petition calling on Wigan Council to bring back a full-size tree and properly working lights.
Matthew James, who launched the petition, said: "Many locals will tell you Tyldesley used to have a fantastic tree and lights.
"But, as many residents and businesses in Tyldesley have noticed, year after year our Christmas tree and lights have gone downhill to a point where we now feel a laughing stock as we are left with half-working cluster lights on a couple of lamp posts.
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"We valued our tree and lights as they brought as sense of Christmas cheer and spirit to the town.
"That feeling has slowly disappeared and we want it back.
"We feel forgotten about and that we are poor relations of Wigan borough."
Last month a Santa was sacked for smoking and an ice rink was flooded at a "winter wonderland" in Cumbria.
Wigan council has admitted it has scaled back Christmas funding for Tyldesley after residents complained last year about too much money being spent on lights.
The council added that the Tyldesley lights are funded through Brighter Borough funding.
It is set at £5,471 per councillor and used throughout the year to pay for community groups and projects.
One of the decorations is a "Living Christmas Tree" in the town's Market Square, but this has been deemed inadequate by locals.
Deborah Parry, who signed the petition, said: "The tree in the centre of a community that pulls everyone together is not too much to ask.
"It would be nice to bring back an old tradition and carol sing round the tree".
Tyldesley councillor Stephen Hellier said: "The living Christmas tree was installed as part of the major revamp of Tyldesley Market Square, which has given us much improved open space for the community for public events and markets.
“While we have reduced the amount spent on Christmas lights this year due to escalating costs, we are confident that next year we will find a more cost-effective way to improve the lights.
“We of course have to balance how much we invest in Christmas lights with funding our numerous community groups and projects throughout the year."
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