THE NEWS that councillors from Bridge and Monkhams are not willing to fund Christmas lights in their wards has met with a mixed reaction from local traders.

At an area two committee meeting on Tuesday night (September 27), councillors were involved in heated exchanges over a request from the South Woodford Business Partnership for a £4,000 grant to pay for festive illuminations on George Lane.

Liberal Democrat councillors from Church End and Roding wards agreed to foot the bill for the lights, but Conservative councillors from the other two wards said they would not be happy with the expenditure.

And they agreed that they would not be using any money from the area budget to pay for lights in their wards.

Pascal Delonglee, manager of Nicolas wine shop on The Broadway, in Woodford Green said he was surprised by the decision.

He explained: “I think that the people who don’t want to put these lights up around Broadway don’t really understand business.

“If you want to sell, you need to enchant people.

“I understand these are difficult times, but councillors should be helping the local economy with things like this.”

Zack Zacknoune from Broadway barbers says he thinks Christmas lights attract shoppers to areas where they are on show.

He added: “Put lights up and more people will come down to the area.

“Christmas only comes once a year and they really need to make an exception here.”

But not all traders were critical of the councillors’ stance.

Raj Madlani is the manager of Jay Jay Stores, a convenience shop on The Broadway.

He said: “It’s a shame but I think if the money can be spent on more long term community projects, then I understand.

“If you look at the current economic climate, it’s clear that we all have to make sacrifices.”

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