Town council may pick up £50k festive lights bill

Scarborough Town Council could be facing a bill of more than £50,000 for the future provision of Christmas lights in the area.

If a proposed budget is passed in February, North Yorkshire Council would no longer pay for the festive decorations in the seaside town from next year .

​Whitby Town Council and Filey Town Council pay for their own illuminations from precepts and other income.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Scarborough town councillors were told they would either have to fundraise or pay for the decorations from winter 2026.

The annual cost of providing Christmas decorations in Scarborough is estimated to be £53,000, excluding VAT, town councillors were told.

Representatives said they were eager to continue the tradition and several options, including applying for funding from York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority, were raised as possible sources of financial support.

​An application for a government grant is being considered for submission in January 2026 by Scarborough & District Chamber of Trade Commerce, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

​Councillor Janet Jefferson, president of the chamber of commerce, previously spoke about a potential joint funding bid for the lighting.

The town council's community and place committee agreed to set up a working group to look into the issue of providing the lights next year.

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