‘Council is the grinch who stole Christmas’
CARDIFF council has been likened to the Grinch after cancelling a hugely popular Christmas festival through the streets of the capital and slashing the sums the city uses to subsidise its festive celebrations.
In 2010, Cardiff council spent £220,000 on lights and decorations and festive shoppers would look forward to a big event to mark their switch on.
It was one of the highlights of the Christmas season and normally a famous face with a Welsh link, including star of made-in-Cardiff sci-fi hit Doctor Who’s David Tennant, would switch on the Christmas lights to big fanfare as thousands lined the streets.
Cardiff council now provides no net subsidy on its Christmas decorations – recovering the £124,000 cost of its city centre Christmas tree, lights, decorations and the reindeer outside Cardiff Castle from the funds it receives from the Winter Wonderland and traders renting stalls in the Christmas market.
Figures from the city council show how the £220,000 bill in 2010 fell to £180,000 in 2012 and £124,000 in 2014 – since when it appears to have remained at around the same level.
Last year, the city spent an additional £40,000 on the Step into Christmas
event – but even that has been axed this year.
The Step into Christmas event saw dozens of different acts performing across Cardiff in front of hundreds of families.
Christopher Dawson, a professional Father Christmas, branded the local authority as the “Grinch council that stole Christmas”.
He said: “Santa is sad to have to serve notice that Cardiff Council are on Santa’s ‘Naughty List’ for letting down city centre shops, the open market and most of all, the children of Cardiff.
“They really are the grinch council that stole your Christmas.
“They advise they do not have funds. Yet Swansea has the most incredible parade with Santa turning on two sets of lights in different areas of Swansea centre. There will be festive characters and so much fun for everyone.”
A council spokesman said: “Last year the council faced a budget gap of approximately £25m and difficult decisions had to be taken across all areas of the council. As part of plans to bridge this gap, Step into Christmas was removed from the city’s events calendar in the budget approved by full council in February 2019.
“However, Cardiff is still recognised as having one of the strongest Christmas offerings in the UK.
“Residents and visitors will be able to see the Christmas lights and tree, which will kick off the festive season alongside the ‘Christmas Things’ late night event at Cardiff Central Market.
“Visitors will also be able to enjoy the ever-popular Christmas chalets selling a range of gifts and crafts, and there is the return of Winter Wonderland with its ice rink, rides and an exciting new ice trail.
“Families will be able to visit Santa as he takes up residence on Queen Street, and the first ever City of Arcades
Day on November 16 should also be bring more festive cheer to the city.”
Winter Wonderland is already open this year with a new layout to previous years.
Last year’s massive drop tower might be gone but it’s been replaced with an equally impressive Big Wheel.
Executive director of FOR Cardiff Adrian Field said: “FOR Cardiff have arranged some exciting activities and events over the festive period in the heart of the city. These include The City of Arcades Day on Saturday, November 16, the return of the Gingerbread Mun House and an exciting surprise from December 1.
“We’ve invested heavily in our Christmas campaign which includes a TV advert that premiers on screens from Monday with supporting advertising across Cardiff, Swansea and Newport.
“We hope it will all inspire people to choose Cardiff as their destination for a festive day out.”