Council had told Blackpool stores to take Christmas decorations down - despite display being likened to Fifth Avenue in New York

By Shelagh Parkinson
Published 25th Nov 2021, 16:36 BST
Updated 26th Nov 2021, 16:34 BST
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Scrooge-like council chiefs who had ordered traders to remove their Christmas decorations have had a change of heart following an outcry.

Stores inside the council-owned Stanley Buildings on Church Street had been told to remove the festive trimmings because they were said to be damaging the listed building.

But after the display was likened to ‘Fifth Avenue in New York’, it was announced the decorations will be allowed to remain in place.

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Traders from Mankind, Lingerie Lounge and Hermosa Boutique had clubbed together to pay for the decorations out of their own pockets.

The decorations outside Lingerie LoungeThe decorations outside Lingerie Lounge
The decorations outside Lingerie Lounge
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Sirge Smart, who owns Mankind menswear store, said: “It has cost us a lot of money and we have not asked the council for anything, and we have had customers in every day who say the decorations look amazing.

“The building is in total disrepair anyway and outside there are chunks of masonry missing, and all we have done is put in two tiny bolts to fasten them to a window ledge.”

Chrissy Thomas Griffin, owner of the Lingerie Lounge, said the decorations “made everyone smile”.

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The decorations on Church StreetThe decorations on Church Street
The decorations on Church Street

She added: “The council served us all notices the day after they were installed ordering us all to remove them