THE ULVERSTON Christmas lights are being repaired after they were found to be in an "extremely poor state" and a danger to the public, a public meeting heard.

The discovery was made after electrical company Aviti, which usually handles the town's lights, went into liquidation.

Ulverston Town Council then contracted West Lakes Electrical to put up this year's lights - and the firm found them to be in a poor condition.

The lights are now being repaired and will be put on display around the town in November ready for the Dickensian Festival and Christmas.


Councillor Phil Lister Councillor Phil Lister, leader of the town council, told a meeting of the council in the Coronation Hall: “I have authorised the expenditure of £3,000 on your Christmas lights.

"The Christmas lights that you have been instrumental in displaying around the town at Christmas time for many years have been in the hands of a number of contractors, the most recent of which has ceased trade.

“When they ceased trading, with some difficulty, we re-obtained possession of our Christmas lights, where we found that the standard of maintenance had been less than what we expected.

“We have appointed a new contractor to handle your Christmas lights and that new contractor has reported to us that your Christmas lights have never been properly maintained and are in an extremely poor state and in need of repair.

"I’m not exaggerating when I say that, essentially, at times we had live wires draped over the heads of people below at Christmas time and at various times in the past.

“Our new contractors have reported to us that the lights are in a dangerous state, so we asked (Ulverston-based LED firm) Forge Europa and they generously assisted us in supplying an independent expert who confirms that the lights are not in an appropriate condition, but tells us that they can be salvaged so that some safe display is available for the Dickensian and then onto the Christmas season."

The lights are due to go up around the town in November.