The Christmas tree lights have always been paid for from the Local Councillor fund, this is a fund that is controlled by the three ward councillors and used at their discretion to improve the ward.

Before the Coalition and subsequent Tory governments decimated Council funding this fund was worth £30k its now only £3k and given the state of local government finance its no sure thing that it will continue into the future.

The Christmas tree lights have to be connected up to the street lighting. Our ward councillors have enquired and been told there's no alternative to this. Consequently, it cost £2050 last year to put the lights on, the PA system for the Christmas Carols costs £198. They've not had the quote for this year but its likely to be substantially higher. Eventually the price of the lights and PA system is going to exceed the entire LCF budget.

By not paying for the lights our ward councillors are able to invest this £3k in community projects, a good example being the new fence and gate at Stargate park.

Christmas lights are outside the remit of Brighten Ryton and we will not be paying for them from our funds. To have the streetlights that many of you have asked for would cost in the region of £12,000. Without a sponsor we could and would not commit.

We will investigate other options with Gateshead Council to see what we can have and what permissions are needed. We will then look to fundraise the amount needed to have Christmas lights in Ryton.