Community apathy could short-circuit Arbroath’s Christmas lights display this year.
An Angus Council report has revealed not one community group has “expressed a willingness to provide financial support to the lighting displays in the town”.
With the community council on a lengthy sabbatical and nothing available from the Common Good Fund (CGF), the town’s celebrations face being scaled down.
The infrastructure services committee will consider options for funding all of the Angus burgh’s displays on Tuesday.
In his report to committee, communities director Alan McKeown said, although no funding offer has been forthcoming, there is still a demand for a lights celebration in Arbroath.
He added: “There is some interest in organising a switch on event for 2013 and dialogue will continue with this group including possible future funding for the Christmas lighting display.
“For 2013 the immediate funding shortfall is the revenue costs to support the provision of the Millgate/West Port display. If funding is not forthcoming from the communities the display will be curtailed.
“Similarly, from 2014 onwards, both the revenue costs of Millgate/West Port and reinvestment in the asset in order to maintain the current levels of the displays will require to be addressed.”
Arbroath’s display has been supported by CGF funding in the past, including a recent extension to cover the Millgate/West Port at an estimated £3,000 per year.
In 2011 the pot was raided to upgrade the lighting on the High Street at a cost of £50,000. In previous years it has supported the Christmas lighting up to a maximum of £7,415 per year.
The net cost to Angus Council of providing displays for 2013/14 across the whole county will be contained within the “other services” budget of £132,000.
In Brechin, the community plans to maintain the current extent of the lighting display and has agreed to provide £5,025 to replace any faulty features with the assistance of matched funding from the town’s CGF fund. The installation of a second Christmas tree in the High Street has also been mooted.
Forfar residents have indicated they are satisfied with their existing lighting display and just £1,200 will be taken from their CGF for replacements and upgrades.
There is a similar picture in Kirriemuir, while in Monifieth the display will remain at last year’s level. The council has yet to be contacted by any community group or elected members from Montrose regarding this year’s display.
CGF funding of £3,600 has been agreed to provide for any upgrades there, along with a contribution from residents should it be made available.
If no extra funding is found to assist towards the purchase of replacement features it will be taken from the “other services” budget.
Mr McKeown added: “The use of CGF is a matter for the corporate services committee to determine.”