Corporate Scrooges lose Xmas lights

9:08am Friday 26th October 2001

BUSINESSMEN Scrooges who refuse to pay for Christmas lights will be named and shamed this year, when the bulbs are taken out of the decorations outside their shops.

The big companies in Amersham's High Street will be left in the dark when the town is illuminated at the Festival of Lights on December 14, as they decided not to cough up their £105 contribution to the cost of the new festive display.

The smaller shops in the town have all agreed to pay the fee.

Eric Springate, the chairman of the Amersham and District Chamber of Commerce, said he thought everyone should club together, as the theme of the event this year is raising money for children in need.

He said: "We are not trying to make a big issue, but this is a community support thing.

"We said to them if you don't pay up you are not going to get your lights outside the building. It's as simple as that."

Mr Springate said they always threatened to show up the businesses that didn't pay, but this year they were definitely going to do it.

He added: "All the previous years approximately 50 per cent have paid and others have benefited.

"More have paid this year but exceptions are the bigger companies that have multiple branches.

"The struggle is with the bigger boys. In the past we have asked for no more than £50 but we wanted to buy a lot more lights to make it worthwhile."

Iceland food store is just one chain of stores that haven't paid.

Simon Head, the assistant manager, said: "We haven't had a budget for anything like that.

"If we could we would, with no budget we cannot.

"If it means we are left in the dark, then we are left in the dark."