Islington’s Christmas lights budget has been dimmed by the council after their budget meeting last Thursday 27 February.
Leader of the Green group, Councillor Benali Hamdache, said that the “£150,000 cut from the Christmas lights budget puts nearly all the displays in the borough at risk”.
“This is a tiny part of the council budget; it feels like a real shame to be scrapping it,” he said.
Residents normally enjoy several light displays in the borough every year, with areas from Angel to Finsbury Park lit up for the festive period.
Last year, the borough had eight “switch-on” events across multiple displays.
“There seems to be an assumption that the private sector can step in to help pay for light, but in these difficult times of tariffs and uncertainty that seems like a bold assertion,” said Cllr Hamdache.
Islington Council declined to comment.
Clare Walsh is the beat reporter for St Mary's and St James'. She is passionate about keeping locals up to date on important stories. She is a freelance journalist, and has written for publications including Varsity and Cambridge Creatives.