But Council says increase in cost is worth it as switch-on attracts more visitors

8:00am Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Kathie Griffiths, T&A Reporter

Bradford’s Christmas lights Bradford’s Christmas lights

Bradford’s cost of Christmas went up by almost £30,000 this year compared to 2011’s festive bill for lights and entertainment.

Although the seasonal electricity bill stayed the same at £4,800, the price of putting on the big switch-on and street theatre events went up massively, newly released figures have just revealed.

The costs came to light after the Telegraph & Argus put in a Freedom of Information request to Bradford Council.

The total bill for 2011 which included the electricity for the lights, the switch-on ceremony in Centenary Square, the ice sculpture trail and street theatre in the city centre came to £56,800.

But this year’s bill topped it at a whopping £85,800 – a breakdown of the figures showed the ice trail itself cost £13,000 and street artists entertaining shoppers over the six Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas came to another £15,000.

A council spokesman said the overall bill would have been even higher if a celebrity had been invited to flick the switch. According to Bradford Council the lights are a massive pull for shoppers and act as a catalyst for people spending more money.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, the Council’s executive member responsible for culture, said putting on Christmas entertainment was all part of making the city centre a vibrant place.

“We had about 16,000 people in City Park for the 2012 switch-on which was incredible,” she said.

“In the first six months of the park being opened we had some independent research which showed that the 20 events we organised brought in about £1.3m of business to restaurants, hotels and shops, so there’s a definite economic benefit for all the events we do, it’s all part of making the city centre a vibrant place and it works.”

The cost of making, refurbishing and storing the lights are covered separately with internal Council funds as part of a ‘social good’ scheme giving work to some of the district’s most disadvantaged citizens.

The contract is held by Industrial Services Group who employs local people with physical and learning disabilities – additional work keeping the lights working is carried out mostly by the Council’s Street Scene team.

Comments(17)

Mr Bradford says...
8:11am Wed 2 Jan 13

Hey naysayers, Look at all the people doing late night shopping in Bradford!

Report this post »

citizen smith says...
9:44am Wed 2 Jan 13

If all those people are busy doing late night shopping why aren't they weighed down by shopping bags?

Report this post »

angry bradfordian says...
10:00am Wed 2 Jan 13

If City Park has brought in £1.3m of extra business, it's going to take approximately 75 years to get the £24m it may have cost to build back through taxes (assuming the city businesses are paying back 25%)

I'd be surprised if it's still there in 75 years!

Report this post »

MontyLeMar says...
10:14am Wed 2 Jan 13

As an old curmudgeon, I strongly protest at the cavalier attitudes of the council when it comes to spending taxpayer money! Did we really need an ice trail? I bet it was quickly followed by a team of gritters trying to make sure people did not slip and break a bone.

Report this post »

collos25 says...
10:27am Wed 2 Jan 13

We had about 16,000 people in City Park for the 2012 switch-on which was incredible,” she said

Not bad compared with the overall population of BMDC.

In times of hardship you can rely on Bradford council to tighten its belt and spend less of other peoples money.

Report this post »

collos25 says...
10:27am Wed 2 Jan 13

We had about 16,000 people in City Park for the 2012 switch-on which was incredible,” she said

Not bad compared with the overall population of BMDC.

In times of hardship you can rely on Bradford council to tighten its belt and spend less of other peoples money.

Report this post »

Albion. says...
11:19am Wed 2 Jan 13

“We had about 16,000 people in City Park for the 2012 switch-on which was incredible,” she said."
Well a fiver each would have almost covered the cost.

Report this post »

MeccaBingo1 says...
11:36am Wed 2 Jan 13

What a load of tripe, I had the misfortune of having to go into town over Christmas. One council car park was shut the other ones pay meter was broken, half the shops are empty. Only B&M's & Poundland looked busy. Council needs to be cut by at least half and stop spending our money on silly things. While I'm on the subject, 50% of the city population does not even celebrate Christmas so why bother. I'm afraid Bradford is a lost City run by over paid, University Educated idiots who seem far removed from the hardship currently been felt by real people in this once great City.

Report this post »

Avro says...
11:45am Wed 2 Jan 13

30k wasted, and until the city centre is regenerated i.e. Westfield built, then there is little point in throwing good money over bad!

Report this post »

Joedavid says...
11:55am Wed 2 Jan 13

Workers not getting wage increases etc. so why cost up?
Something is wrong in how the Council spends OUR money.

Report this post »

MarkPullen says...
12:06pm Wed 2 Jan 13

MontyLeMar wrote:
As an old curmudgeon, I strongly protest at the cavalier attitudes of the council when it comes to spending taxpayer money! Did we really need an ice trail? I bet it was quickly followed by a team of gritters trying to make sure people did not slip and break a bone.
Methinks the trail was of ice sculptures as opposed to an icy footpath.

Either way it seems more than a little excessive.

Report this post »

The obvious says...
12:57pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Wow you had people in town doing late night shopping! Welcome to the future.

The worst Xmas lights of any town or city were to be found in Bradford. Seen more lights for deepwali earlier in the year, you are a joke Bradford council

Report this post »

basil fawlty says...
1:53pm Wed 2 Jan 13

I think the Christmas lights were just about adeqate but I wouldn't be too critical of the Council's spending on them unless there is evidence that suggests that Bradford paid more for less.

Report this post »

MeccaBingo1 says...
2:03pm Wed 2 Jan 13

basil fawlty wrote:
I think the Christmas lights were just about adeqate but I wouldn't be too critical of the Council's spending on them unless there is evidence that suggests that Bradford paid more for less.
Hello is they any one in!!! That’s what the article is about.

Report this post »

flogem says...
8:26pm Wed 2 Jan 13

The only profit made with any lights was by the Eastern European gang selling overpriced/poor quality lightwands etc.

Report this post »

thatsnotmyname says...
10:12pm Wed 2 Jan 13

I welcome christmas lights and events, but wouldn't it be a good idea to hire local artists rather than mad french ones. That way the council money still remains in the city.

Report this post »

lazybeat says...
10:32pm Thu 3 Jan 13

NO shops, No car parks makes no return in investment. when will this retarded council get that.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree