Christmas funding body blow for Largs Yuletide spectacular

The £10k grant from the trust was under the proviso of paying for new lighting, so can't be used for installation costs which North Ayrshire Council pulled the funding for earlier this year across the region.

As recently reported, the council has withdrawn all funding for the installation of the illuminations throughout North Ayrshire, leaving volunteers in Largs with a £6,000-plus shortfall.

However, a bid by the Largs Events volunteer group to the town's seafront car park fund to help pay for the installation has been knocked back by a council official, who stated that "the car park fund cannot be used for this purpose as there was a clear budget decision made to cease funding the installation of festive lights".

Councillors in the North Coast area, who all wanted to see the Largs Events grant application approved, have been told that the only way this decision can be reversed is through a motion to full council.

The seafront car park fund revenue is ringfenced to pay for local projects in the town.

The application was made to Largs Events by their treasurer, with chairman Ian Murdoch unable to get involved as he is a councillor.

Mr Murdoch said he was very disappointed in the decision, which has put the events group in a difficult position just under two months until the Largs Yuletide Night, and when the lights traditionally get switched on in early December.

The independent councillor said: "What is the point in the seafront car park fund if it can't fund local projects like it is supposed to do? It seemed the most obvious channel for our group to apply for so this is desperately disappointing.

Ian Murdoch says he is very disappointed to have missed out on the funding application (Image: Newsquest)"One option which is not one anyone would like to have to consider is that we may have to hand the £10,000 back to the Weir Charitable Trust for the new lighting as there is no point in paying for the lighting if we can't install it.

"In addition to that, we might not afford to put up the existing lights as we are unsuccessful in the application.

"The other main concern we have is that the usual high standard of the yuletide celebration, the Santa's sleigh ride around the local communities, and also applying for insurance, will all take a hit, and will have an impact on what will be hosting this year.

"But it could be a reduced Yuletide offering, and that would be a very sad thing altogether given that we have the major council budget cuts coming up as it is, and we wanted to provide some seasonal cheer at what has been a difficult time for people."

Largs Yuletide Night could have to be scaled back (Image: Newsquest)

Conservative councillor Tom Marshall said: "My view is that the car park fund is to be used for the benefit of the people of Largs and I think it is unacceptable for officers of the council to deny this decision which has been agreed by all five elected members. 

"If Cllr Murdoch wants to raise a motion to reinstate this funding then I would be happy to support."

Fellow Tory councillor Todd Ferguson said that he was as "disappointed as Largs Events are" given the situation.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “At a meeting of Full Council on February 28, a decision was taken to remove the budget for festive lights as a saving.

“The Largs Car Park (LCP) Fund is Council money and will be used for the benefit of our communities. But as a decision was taken by Full Council to make this saving we can’t reverse the decision and use the LCP Fund to fund the lighting.”