A row has broken out over a cathedral city's 'disappointing' Christmas lights display after a councillor blamed it on the local authority wasting its money on 'net zero' policies.
Furious residents of Salisbury, Wiltshire, say the lack of seasonal offerings compared to previous years' means the area has 'lost the festive spirit'.
Unlike previous years there has been no big Christmas lights switch-on, no late-night shopping on a Thursday, the chalet-style Christmas market is much smaller and there is no large tree and ice rink.
Conservative Councillor Sven Hocking blamed the money being instead 'splurged' on attempting to reach net zero and 'green stuff', saying Christmas time should be when a council should goes 'wham' to satisfy local taxpayers.
The 59 year old said: 'They've [the city council] got no money, so they can't throw anything at anything because they've splurged it all on green stuff and all the other rubbish that they've done, so it's a question of priorities.'
A row has broken out over Salisbury's Christmas lights this year, with some locals saying the area had lost its 'festive spirit'
2023: Locals have slammed this year's Salisbury Christmas lights, branding it 'disappointing'
2022: It's a far cry to last year's illuminations, which are pictured in all their magical glory
2019: Salisbury's streets and lanes were transformed into stunning festive walkways with their Christmas displays
Unlike previous years in Salisbury, there was no big Christmas light switch on
Some councillors blamed the poor display on money being spent on 'green stuff' to meet net zero
He added: 'They've gone over the top on the green stuff, to meet net zero, etcetera, etcetera, which is costing us an absolute fortune.
'If we spent less money on trying to become carbon neutral, which as a parish council will have absolutely no effect on anything whatsoever, and more on the visual stuff that people actually see - the council won't come under so much scrutiny.'
Cllr Hocking said the council is only as good as what residents see when they step out of their front doors.
He added: 'If you do nothing that the vast majority of your council taxpayers see, the assumption will be that you're not doing a very good job.
'Things like Christmas lights are those annual occasions where you can go wham and have a good time.'
Labour Cllr Caroline Corbin - community services chairman and deputy mayor - said she too was 'disappointed' by the display but admitted the council is having to cut costs.
She said: 'If it's not been possible to provide the big events as the years have gone by, then that's what it is.
'I think it's just trying to get it right and I don't think, with the best thought in the world, that it's quite right this year, but not dissing what is there.
'I think it's good, but I think there needs to be more of a joined up, coordinated effort with the shops to get people to come in.'
2023: Residents in Salisbury have been less than impressed by this year's festive illuminations
2023: Some more effort appeared to have been made in the city centre, with lights on trees
2022: But the offering this year appeared less that last year's illuminations, when the cathedral city was a sea of twinkling lights
2020: Pictured is the city's display during the Christmas Covid lockdown three years ago
2018: Salisbury was full of festive illuminations, with lights decorating its Christmas village
The lack of festive display's at the city's George Mall was noticed by visitors.
One local, Peter Lord, 86, said he would have liked to have seen a big Christmas tree and his wife Carol, 75, added: 'I was a little disillusioned, I must admit.
'It was a shame but maybe if a bit more thought went into it, it could've looked a bit more Christmassy.'
Charlotte Copeman, 45, and her family travelled to Salisbury especially for the display and admitted to feeling disappointed by the offerings.
The mother of one said: 'We went to Winchester and had an awesome day out, we also came here to do it today and there's absolutely nothing-we're really surprised, we spoke to some of the store owners and they said they were really disappointed.'
In previous years, Salisbury council have had a big Christmas tree on display in the city centre with a light switch on hosted by a celebrity.
Other frustrated residents took to the Salisbury UK Notice Board Facebook group to share their opinions on the Christmas offerings.
Nikki Wyeth wrote 'Salisbury has lost the festive spirit'; an opinion echoed by Lisa Da Costa, who commented 'Salisbury is just disappointing all together'.
Another local, Samantha Martin, slammed the lack of funding in the markets this year, commenting: 'Christmas happens once a year and it's a big thing for children and families.
'With people having to cut right back because they simply cannot afford them you would think the least the council could do for its residents is make Christmas time extra special.'
Chairman of the events, markets and grants sub committee, councillor Sam Charleston, defended the city's offering but said the people of Salisbury will 'see more next year'.
He said: 'The events we're doing are spread out more across the city.
'I appreciate that all these things are a matter of taste, but I'm very happy with the amount of things that are going on this year.
'I think we will see more next year because that is the process we're undertaking.'
Cllr Annie Riddle, who is part of the council's leadership team, said: 'If people want more and they want the council to fund more, they will have to pay more council tax.
'Unless they want another big tax rise, we are doing our best to maintain the level of everyday services which people rely on and people expect from us, and we're doing our very best to provide Christmas festivities at a reasonable cost.
Cllr Riddle added that 'it's no use' wishing for a return of the chalet-style Christmas market, as some of the chalets are no longer fit for purpose and there is 'certainly no money for new ones'.
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