Christmas lights stop residents from getting support

Torbay Council allocated £30,000 for the festive displays

Some Torbay residents says they are recevcing a lack of extra support this Christmas as more money is put towards light displays in the town centres.

Torbay allocated £30,000 total this year for “Christmas lights and other seasonal economic activity,” with £5,000 going to Brixham, £10,000 to Paignton and the remaining £15,000 for Torquay.

Originally the money was destined to be split equally between three groups, £5,000 going to St. Marychurch, £8,000 to Torquay Town Centre Partnership, and the chamber of commerce respectively. However, when the chamber of commerce put forward their proposal, they were informed that they would only receive  £2,000.

The proposal from the chamber was for the chamber to offer hot meals and food parcels to the elderly and ex-service personnel of the area, especially people facing financial difficulties.

The chamber was told it had failed to meet the required criteria for the funding, which had been outlined as for “Christmas lights or other seasonal economic activity, ” and advised to seek match-funding to plug part of the gap.

Susie Colley, chair of the chamber of commerce, says it will now split the grant between three groups that support Torquay, including those that provide hot lunches and company for many on Christmas day, that teaching people how to cook, and that provides food parcels for those who are less mobile or unable to leave their homes.