Will Norton be left in the dark at Christmas? (From Gazette & Herald)

Will Norton be left in the dark at Christmas?

THE twin towns of Malton and Norton could be divided over Christmas lights this year.

A feast and famine situation is on the cards, now that Malton has a lights co-ordinator in place and Norton does not.

Stuart Collins, of Coltrec Electrical Services and a Norton councillor, will be stepping into the breach in Malton after some uncertain months following the resignation of former co-ordinator Bob North due to illness.

"I'm pleased to say we're now optimistic that the lights will go ahead," said chairman of the Chamber of Trade Ian Beecham.

"We've got a fairly short time scale to work with, but Stuart is now in the process of assembling a team and they will be starting work within the next week."

A provisional date has been set for switch-on on November 29.

"That gives us six weeks to get it done, which is quite a fast turnaround, but I'm confident it can be done. I'm delighted Stuart has agreed to do this and I hope everyone in the town will get behind him."

Stuart has also said he is willing to do the Norton lights as well, but no decision has been made.

While Malton lights have traditionally been arranged by the Malton and Norton Chamber of Trade, Norton has its own separate Christmas lights committee.

The Norton committee is also without it key co-ordinator this year, as Tom Jones has stepped down due to ill health. The committee has yet to announce whether or not it intends to continue providing the lights.

At a Norton Town Council meeting held on Monday, October 20, the possibility of the council taking over responsibility for the project was raised.

However, it was decided that communication with the lights committee was necessary first to ensure a smooth hand-over. There was also a disagreement over funding.

Mr Collins said he could do the lights "as voluntarily as possible" but there would be some costs to cover.

Coun Di Keal said: "If this isn't resolved quickly, Norton won't have any Christmas lights, and that would be dreadful.

"We have perhaps relied for too long on volunteers, and we now have to move with the times and pay towards the lights."

Coun David Lloyd-Williams agreed, saying: "If we want Christmas lights that are professional and attract people into the town, should we make some funding available?

"The days of volunteers have long gone. After the war, it may have been okay, but up and down the country it's much more professional these days because of health and safety."

But other councillors disagreed. Coun Allin Jenkins said: "This means we have to go back to the council taxpayers and ask them to pay for it.

"People who are retired cannot currently meet the council tax payments they are being asked for. The money hasn't been budgeted for and I think members have got to start being professional and look for savings."

The council resolved to spend the £100 already allocated to their own Christmas lights around the swimming pool and deferred the rest of the matter to the next meeting in November.

Updated: 11:12 Wednesday, October 22, 2003