In the dark over Portland Christmas lights (From Dorset Echo)

In the dark over Portland Christmas lights

10:50am Monday 7th December 2009 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(24)

PORTLANDERS claim the annual Christmas lights on the island are the worst ever.

Former mayor Sandy West said the Portland display made the island appear like ‘the Black Hole of Calcutta’.

Mrs West has criticised the council’s efforts and said a ‘Scrooge’ attitude had been taken yet again to the island.

But the council said health and safety rules meant that it was unsafe to put up many of the decorations used in previous years.

Unhappy islanders say that the main Christmas tree in Easton Square has just a few coloured lights scattered over it.

There is just one ‘Merry Christmas’ sign at the start of Fortuneswell and a few trees in Victoria Square.

A few lights can also be found in the bushes at the bottom of New Road, but Mrs West said these looked as though they have been ‘thrown on’.

She said that there used to be lights on the lampposts in Fortuneswell but this year these appeared to be absent. Mrs West said: “I think it’s an absolute disgrace that there is such a Scrooge attitude on Portland yet again. Please Weymouth and Portland Borough Council give us our lights and don’t leave us in the dark this Christmas.”

Steve Pearce who owns Codfathers fish and chip shop on the island agreed. He said: “The decorations are absolutely rubbish and we’re starting to feel a bit left out.

“You’d never even know it was Christmas on Weston Road.”

Rebecca Small, who runs Portland Pets with her mum, said they were both disappointed with the Christ-mas tree that was put up opposite their shop in Easton Square.

She said: “The colours of the lights are a bit odd because they’re mainly blue with the odd red and white one so they’re not very Christmassy.

“In the park there’s a few trees decorated but they are all higgledy-piggledy as though they’ve been put on half-heartedly.”

Her mum, Alison Ward, added: “In Weymouth they have lovely decorations but it seems like we have just got the leftovers.

“The shopkeepers have done a much better job than the council.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said health and safety regulations had been followed when putting up the decorations this year.

A spokesman from the council said: “Recently introduced safety regulations for Dorset highlight the potential risk of attaching signs, hanging baskets, banners, advertisements and festive lights to street light columns in areas subject to high winds or rust damage.

“Columns are also subject to internal rust which can weaken the structure.

“With this in mind, the borough council have taken measures to place lights and a tree at locations in Fortuneswell and Easton square.”