Gloom over festive lights (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Gloom over festive lights

A LACK of support from Stow businesses could see a shadow cast across future Christmas celebrations in the town.

Every year Stow Chamber of Commerce spends about £4,000 on the town's festive light display.

However, the chairman of the chamber, town councillor Paul Gibson, said that there might not be enough money to fund the lights in future because only about 40 of the town's 140-plus traders are chamber members.

He added that the chamber is now applying for a grant of £500 from the town council.

"We need some help from the council," he said. "At this point in time it seems to be balanced on a knife edge."

Town mayor Alan Rose said the council did not yet know if it could approve the application because it has already budgeted for the approaching financial year.

"The council is sympathetic to this request because we appreciate that the residents of Stow also get the benefit of the Christmas illuminations," he said. "Having spent 16 years on the Chamber of Commerce and the council myself, I can understand the frustration of people who are organising things and do not get the support.

"It is unfair that people do not contribute but are quite happy to reap the benefits of the work that the members of the chamber do."