Town in top ten for Christmas lights spending
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APPARENTLY Cheltenham is one of the biggest spenders in the country when it comes to putting money into Christmas lights.
According to the 2020 Christmas Lights & Decorations Expenditure Report by Christmastrees.co.uk, the town is the sixth biggest spender as a proportion of population with a spend of £485 per thousand people.
The town spends an average of £56,477 per year on Christmas lights and decorations, and is projected to spend £45,300 this Christmas according to the research.
Cheltenham Borough Council revealed that this year’s contribution was £47,000.
When it came to the highest overall spend Dundee in Scotland ranked fifth with an average spend of £188,913.
Director of Planning for Cheltenham Borough Council, Tracey Crews said: ‘’In recent years, Cheltenham Borough Council has outsourced the commissioning and management of the town’s Christmas lights to Cheltenham Business Improvement District.
“This outsourcing and the financial contribution of £47,000 which the council makes, supports delivery of the Christmas Lights and the lights switch on event, which over recent years has significantly improved and driven footfall into the town centre. “The council’s financial contribution to the Christmas lights is part of our commitment to supporting our high street and town centre and the vital role that our retail, hospitality and visitor economy sectors play, especially over the Christmas trading period. Our Shop Local campaign is all about encouraging people back into town to support our retailers - large and small - and the lights are a big part of creating the kind of shopping experience that you simply don’t get online.”