‘Scrooge’ traders refuse to pay for Christmas lights
City manager Joe Gavin confirmed last night he will bring proposals to a full meeting of the city council on Monday seeking approval for a €200,000 “scheme of assistance” to help fund the festive lighting.
Mr Gavin has written to councillors outlining the position.
“Traditionally, the traders of the various streets in the city centre arranged for the provision of Christmas festive lighting and met the cost,” he says in his report. “In recent times, it has become very difficult for the organisers to secure sufficient financial assistance from the individual traders.
“Approaches have been made for assistance from the city council.
“I recommend that the city council approves a scheme of assistance whereby the council would meet 80% of the cost of festive lighting with the traders in the respective streets contributing 20% of the cost. The cost to the city council would be in the region of €200,000 per annum.”
However, Socialist Party Cllr Mick Barry launched a blistering attack on the city’s traders.
“Ebenezer Scrooge himself would be proud indeed of the city’s traders, who have come running to the council looking for such a big handout,” he said.
“The cash registers have already started to ring to the sound of Christmas cash and the big stores in particular will make mega-profits in the next seven weeks.
“€50,000 in total is a miserable sum to give back to the people of Cork.”
Cllr Barry said he was looking forward to debating the issue on Monday night.
In previous years, the city council met the energy costs associated with the festive lighting.
Cork Business Association used to administer a Christmas lights fund but it no longer plays a role.
A source said the group found it increasingly difficult to secure contributions of between €1,000 and €1,500 from individual traders, especially foreign-owned businesses on St Patrick’s Street.
Most of the smaller and indigenous businesses paid their way, he said. But there were “spongers” out there who simply refused to pay, he claimed.
“It’s a case of lights out or lights on this year. I think it’s a good idea that the council takes over.”
The city’s hi-tech Christmas light system was designed by Spanish architect Beth Gali to complement her revamp of St Patrick’s Street.
The city paid €259,182 with traders funding the balance over a two-year period.
They were first switched on in 2005 as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations.
The system features white star- shaped daisy-chain LED technology lights which can be strung between the signature street lamps lining the main street.
It also includes electric blue fairy lights from Denmark strung over the trees.
The system is low-maintenance and low-cost, but storage and fitting costs run to between €60,000 and €70,000 annually.
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