Where have Howden's lights gone?

Published on 14th December 2006 in Letters

Sir - Where have the peoples of Howden's excellent light displays gone? I have lived in Howden for over 40 years and unfortunately started to notice a decline in the town's Market Place Christmas fair.

Within the last 10 years thousands of pounds of our council tax have been spent both procuring and then installing wonderful light displays which put Howden on the map regarding their Christmas decorations and encouraged shoppers to visit Howden.

The Shire Hall and post office end of town used to have large light curtains which lit up the town but these seem to have disappeared, along with other smaller displays on walls.

It a good job the traders of Howden have come up with some wonderful displays of their own this year on their premises to mask the council's sad, declining performance on the town Christmas lights.

Maybe the town councillors who budget for thousands each year of our council tax should revisit their yearly expenditure on Christmas lights.

I suspect there will be no money available as the allotment link road raises its ugly head yet again, even when the majority of people in Howden don't want it. The council has already wasted thousands of our tax money on a futile attempt to get it passed. Good money after bad comes to mind.

It's about time the town council took more note of the people of Howden's views and acted upon them, rather than furthering some of their own personal political ambitions. There is no room for politics at town council level and the people of Howden's needs and views should come first.

Concerned Howden ratepayer

Buttfield Lane, Howden