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| Festive light spend cut by up to 90% in parts of London | Festive light spend cut by up to 90% in parts of London |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Council spending on Christmas lights and decorations in London has been cut this year by up to 90%. | Council spending on Christmas lights and decorations in London has been cut this year by up to 90%. |
| The biggest cut - in Labour-controlled Islington - saw the total spend down from £138,000 last year to £11,700. | The biggest cut - in Labour-controlled Islington - saw the total spend down from £138,000 last year to £11,700. |
| It was revealed by a survey and Freedom of Information requests by BBC London, which found an average reduction across all 32 London councils of 15.5%. | It was revealed by a survey and Freedom of Information requests by BBC London, which found an average reduction across all 32 London councils of 15.5%. |
| Islington Council says Christmas lights are still shining, as local businesses have picked up much of the bill. | Islington Council says Christmas lights are still shining, as local businesses have picked up much of the bill. |
| Other big reductions are in Bromley, down £42,600, Camden, down £38,318 and Brent, down £38,286. | Other big reductions are in Bromley, down £42,600, Camden, down £38,318 and Brent, down £38,286. |
| Overall, 15 London councils have reduced spending on lights. | Overall, 15 London councils have reduced spending on lights. |
| Responding to the findings, a spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "There's no need for town halls to play Scrooge. | |
| "It is in councils' financial interests to draw in shoppers to their town centres at Christmas given the benefits of packed car parks to councils' coffers. | |
| "Shoppers want to see Christmas lights, Christmas trees, carol services and Nativity scenes and councils should not hesitate in supporting them." | |
| Councillor Catherine West, leader of Islington Council, said: "This year we've been hit very hard by government cuts and we haven't been able to put on as many Christmas lights. | Councillor Catherine West, leader of Islington Council, said: "This year we've been hit very hard by government cuts and we haven't been able to put on as many Christmas lights. |
| "However our local businesses have worked really hard despite that to put on displays and we're trying to do as much as we can within a very small budget. | "However our local businesses have worked really hard despite that to put on displays and we're trying to do as much as we can within a very small budget. |
| 'Feel good factor' | 'Feel good factor' |
| "We've spoken to local businesses and asked where would it hurt the least to take out the lights." | "We've spoken to local businesses and asked where would it hurt the least to take out the lights." |
| She added: "In the current climate we need to spend as much as we can on our Citizens' Advice Bureau for people who are in debt. | She added: "In the current climate we need to spend as much as we can on our Citizens' Advice Bureau for people who are in debt. |
| "There are a lot of people homeless at the minute - so we are directing resources towards those kind of priorities." | "There are a lot of people homeless at the minute - so we are directing resources towards those kind of priorities." |
| Matt Segal, who runs Frederick's restaurant in Camden Passage, Islington, which contributed £750, said: "It gives us the feel-good factor which is crucial for Christmas and really good after what's been quite a tough year. | Matt Segal, who runs Frederick's restaurant in Camden Passage, Islington, which contributed £750, said: "It gives us the feel-good factor which is crucial for Christmas and really good after what's been quite a tough year. |
| "Children love it and grown ups love it - and we're in the business of making people happy." | "Children love it and grown ups love it - and we're in the business of making people happy." |
| The biggest spending council this year was Hackney, one of the UK's most deprived boroughs. | The biggest spending council this year was Hackney, one of the UK's most deprived boroughs. |
| It shelled out a total of £165,000, the exact same sum as last year. | It shelled out a total of £165,000, the exact same sum as last year. |
| On the streets of Hackney there was a mixed reaction to the figure. | On the streets of Hackney there was a mixed reaction to the figure. |
| One resident said: "It's not a good way to spend money - this is Hackney, they have so many other problems. | One resident said: "It's not a good way to spend money - this is Hackney, they have so many other problems. |
| "After the riots there was so much damage done and people in need. | "After the riots there was so much damage done and people in need. |
| "The money should go to those families and regenerating those communities, not Christmas lights which are bad for the environment." | "The money should go to those families and regenerating those communities, not Christmas lights which are bad for the environment." |
| But another resident said: "I'm a resident here and I enjoy it - so I think a bit of money is OK." | But another resident said: "I'm a resident here and I enjoy it - so I think a bit of money is OK." |
| Hackney councillor Feryal Demirci said: "We decided not to cut our budget because we believe at a financial time like this it's really important to attract shoppers to our town centres and our markets. | Hackney councillor Feryal Demirci said: "We decided not to cut our budget because we believe at a financial time like this it's really important to attract shoppers to our town centres and our markets. |
| "Hackney businesses are facing a fresh challenge this year with the opening of Westfield down the road in Stratford. | "Hackney businesses are facing a fresh challenge this year with the opening of Westfield down the road in Stratford. |
| "So we felt it was really important to do our bit to attract shoppers - we don't have the likes of Selfridge's to subsidise us." | "So we felt it was really important to do our bit to attract shoppers - we don't have the likes of Selfridge's to subsidise us." |
| Glowing swans | Glowing swans |
| The second highest spender was Labour-run Enfield Council in north London, which parted with £90,000 - an increase of almost £40,000 on last year's spend. | The second highest spender was Labour-run Enfield Council in north London, which parted with £90,000 - an increase of almost £40,000 on last year's spend. |
| Councillor Del Goddard, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "We have indeed spent an extra £40,000. | Councillor Del Goddard, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "We have indeed spent an extra £40,000. |
| "We have spent the money on a tree of light - we have three of those. | "We have spent the money on a tree of light - we have three of those. |
| "We have trees lit up and two swans. We've supplemented additional lighting." | "We have trees lit up and two swans. We've supplemented additional lighting." |
| He added: "We think it's money excellently spent - because we've increased footfall and that's going to increase business in shops." | He added: "We think it's money excellently spent - because we've increased footfall and that's going to increase business in shops." |
| Ali Osman, owner of Clover Insurance Services in Enfield, gave the sum a cautious welcome. | Ali Osman, owner of Clover Insurance Services in Enfield, gave the sum a cautious welcome. |
| He said: "If the arrival of the lights increases footfall and the ambience of the area and puts money through the tills it would be a good thing. | He said: "If the arrival of the lights increases footfall and the ambience of the area and puts money through the tills it would be a good thing. |
| "But obviously time will tell, when we look at figures for the next quarter. | "But obviously time will tell, when we look at figures for the next quarter. |
| "The ambience of the area is improved - but Christmas lights are a temporary thing." | "The ambience of the area is improved - but Christmas lights are a temporary thing." |
| The biggest rise was in Haringey, up by £41,740, to £66,740. | The biggest rise was in Haringey, up by £41,740, to £66,740. |
| A Haringey council spokeswoman said: "We were happy to spend this money as part of our commitment to supporting our local traders in these difficult economic times. | A Haringey council spokeswoman said: "We were happy to spend this money as part of our commitment to supporting our local traders in these difficult economic times. |
| "We were also keen to do everything possible to give traders in Tottenham a great Christmas after so many of them had such a difficult summer." | "We were also keen to do everything possible to give traders in Tottenham a great Christmas after so many of them had such a difficult summer." |