Christmas lights on new lamp-posts get go-ahead after confusion across Fife towns

It comes after confusion over what could be put up on new LED lampposts which are not able to carry as much weight as the ones they have replaced in many towns.

Fife Council had come in for criticism for mixed messages as some towns got the go-ahead while others were told they could not.

Councillor Lynda Holton (Glenrothes Central and Thornton, SNP) has been pursuing concerns on behalf of the communities of Thornton and Coaltown of Balgonie after their applications for festive decorations to be attached to lampposts were rejected last year due to a review of street lighting columns.

That turned out to be a much wider issue, and she raised the matter several times, including at full council in March, requesting an urgent meeting for elected members to be briefed on the situation.

That was held at the end of June at which point councillors were assured that communities would be informed by mid-July whether their existing schemes could go ahead this year.

Cllr Lynda Holton said: “It has been a frustratingly long process to get to this point, but I am pleased to hear that communities are now finally receiving the assurance that they can proceed with their existing lighting schemes this Christmas.

“The ongoing review of street lighting columns will ascertain whether columns are suitable for new decorations in future years.

“But the primary objective for me was to ensure that communities, many of which have invested heavily in their Christmas lights, are able to use their decorations going forward. I will be continuing to closely follow the ongoing review to ensure that applications for new schemes can be considered for next Christmas.”