Call to help Dingwall secure its Christmas lights

SUPERMARKET shoppers in Ross-shire’s county town are being asked to help ensure its festive display has a bright future.

Dingwall Community Co-uncil (DCC) has managed to get the town’s Christmas lights and switch-on event into the latest projects set to benefit from Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme.

Funded by the 5p charge for plastic carrier bags introduced in Scotland to help wage the war on single-use plastic waste, the scheme shortlists three projects to enjoy a share of regular pay outs – which can be £4000, £3000 or £1000 depending on their popularity with the public.

Shoppers make their preference by dropping blue counters into the slot of their preferred scheme in-store.

A representative of the community council said: "The decision was made by Highland Council, as part of the budget in February, to make communities 100 per cent responsible for their Christmas lights.

"Dingwall Community Council has been successful in its bid to win funding, on behalf of the community, through the Bags of Help scheme towards the lights and the switch-on event in Dingwall on December 1."

The spokeswoman added: "Up to now the community council has taken the lead on this with the Highland Council putting up and taking down the lights for us and helping out with a contribution from the ward discretionary fund.

"The council have agreed that there will be no change this year with the help given to erect and dismantle the lights but next year a charge will be made.

"The DCC will still be taking the lead but unfortunately the discretionary fund has been reduced by half as a result of the budget cuts and the community council also had its budget cut by half. So we are asking the members of the community to vote for their Christmas lights. Please spread the word!"