Ringwood businesses criticise Christmas lights exclusion

Several traders based in Christchurch Road have criticised Ringwood Town Council for not extending the festive lights annually installed down the High Street and Southampton Road.

Christchurch Road is sandwiched between the illuminated roads, and businesses owners say they feel they have been “excluded from the community” because of the perceived snub.

The town council, meanwhile, said this is down to cost.

Ringwood High Street with Christmas decorations (Image: Newsquest)

Shad Mannan of the popular restaurant India Cottage said: “We’re one of the few businesses that are open late night in our area and to walk outside and see the town lit up by Christmas lights except our road feels like we have been excluded from the community.

“I started reaching out to the council a few years ago to find out why our street isn’t included in the Christmas festivities and have been told it would be looked into, yet every year the lights go up and we still have nothing. As a business we feel underappreciated and overlooked.”

Other businesses including Price’s Fish and Chips, Amarone Italian restaurant and Lunns Newsagents have also reported displeasure.

Shad added: “We know the council doesn’t have unlimited funds. All we’re asking is that we’re considered to be included. All we want is for Ringwood to be the very best, thriving market town it can be with all businesses included.”

Shad Mannan in Ringwood High Street (Image: Newsquest)

Ringwood Town Council clerk Chris Wilkins told the Echo: “The cost of the Christmas lights is borne entirely by this council out of the Council Tax levied on local households – the business community contributes nothing to the cost and this council receives nothing from the business rates.

“Our councillors are acutely aware of the burden of Council Tax on local people and strives to keep costs down and ensure the town gets maximum value from the money.

“We would dearly love to extend the Christmas display to include more premises but councillors have made the difficult judgment that what we have at present is the best we can afford.

Ringwood Town Council building in Ringwood (Image: Ringwood Town Council)

“I appreciate this leaves some premises out and we regret this but hope [residents] will understand the reasoning behind it.”

The council also said differing power sources at nearby locations confounded their decision.

Mr Wilkins added: “We will be re-tendering the display after next year and will then explore the possibility of extending it if this is affordable.

“In the meanwhile, shop-owners are free to arrange their own displays.”