HARTFORD’S decision to be free of Christmas lights this festive season has created a stir in the village.

At its meeting last month, Hartford Parish Council decided the village would have to do without lights this year because of the cost and issues surround the reliability of the lights.

A villager, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted the Guardian and said he would be willing to donate money to get lights up and running in the village.

“If the cost to install the lights last year was £1,700, £1,000 of which was to install the electricity supply for them, does it not make sense to utilise this expense and put them up again this year?,” he said.

“Perhaps if the parish council respected the fact that most festive activities cease around the first week in January and actually switch the lights off then, rather than leave them on until March, then they could actually recoup some of their budget?”

He added: “I find it difficult to believe that Hartford cannot afford to get in the Christmas spirit this year, when I'm sure the huge tree and lights will be up, as usual, in neighbouring Weaverham.

“Perhaps, the contractors that are working on the Bradburns Lane slip road could offer an olive branch for running so far over timescale and disrupting Hartford residents for so long and donate some money towards the cost of the lights.

“I'm sure the shops would then follow suit. I know I would donate some money, if it meant the lights would go up this year.”

Parish clerk Jo O’Donoghue said the village would still be ‘staging’ a Christmas theme this year.

“A representative from the village shops came to see us at our last meeting as they are thinking of holding a Victorian Christmas event so we will see how that goes,” she said.

What do you think about the decision of the parish council to not install the lights this year?

Let us know at northwich guardian.co.uk/forum.