SCROOGE has arrived in Majorca this Christmas! Local councils across the island are slashing the amount of money they spend on Christmas illuminations. The Palma city council have signalled that they will reduce their budget by at least 50 percent and the Manacor council is planning a very quiet Christmas with few lights and little else. Other councils are expected to follow their example. It is a rather short-sighted move really. Christmas lights bring out the shoppers, shoppers spend money, council gets more taxes! You would have thought that after an exceptionally hard year the various councils could find some cash to give us a decent Christmas.
Retail sales have already fallen but shopkeepers are banking on a decent Christmas to give their profits a lift. Well, they are going to have little help this year. Now, I know that the finances of local authorities are in a real mess; I am not too sure where all the money has gone but if you believe the local government these islands are effectively bankrupt. Local councils are said to be in the same boat. But surely the budget extends to a few Christmas lights. I have often criticised the Palma city council for not giving the city a more festive feel. This year it looks as if they are really going to get some severe criticism! I am sure that cuts to other non-essential items can be made, such as official cars, so that at least we can have some festive light this Christmas period.
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