YORK is set for a very merry Christmas this year, after residents and tourists were handed two early gifts from city leaders.

In a surprise announcement, ruling councillors said they were able to pay for the city's full array of cross-street festive lights to be put up this year, meaning York will enjoy a bright Christmas - just like the ones it used to know.

In a second boost for shoppers and traders, councillors also revealed they were hoping to offer reduced parking charges on one or two days in the run-up to Christmas.

The news has been welcomed by city centre retailers, economic leaders, and councillors.

Graham Barlow, owner of The Miniature Scene, in Fossgate, said: "It's very good news as far as I am concerned.

"York is a city that lends itself to a Christmas atmosphere, and anything that will enhance that will attract more visitors.

"The more then can do to attract visitors the better and once they are here, if we have the lights up people will not be disappointed."

The council is spending £20,000 on the lights, with a further £10,000 coming from York City Centre Partnership, and £5,000 from traders.

The council is funding its share from a £500,000 business rates rebate from the Government, with the rest going towards the council's vital reserves.

Council leader Steve Galloway said: "Cross-street lights in York are an important in part of our Christmas offer. Now having the funding in place to ensure they will be provided is great news."

David Scott, leader of the council's Labour group, said: "People come to York at Christmas time, and residents and visitors expect to see the lights. They are not looking for Blackpool lights - they want something more traditional and we have to meet those expectations."

Carolyn Dunn of York City Centre Partnership, said: "We are absolutely delighted, and it shows true partnership working between ourselves, the council and the traders.

"The lights do attract people and psychologically people like having that extra sparkle."

An earlier report, presented to councillors in June, had said cross-street lighting throughout the city centre would be too expensive, but the new windfall has made it affordable this year.

Last year, there were complaints after the council said they could not afford to fund the cross-street lights.

Instead, a specially-designed, sparkling Christmas tree was put up in Parliament Street.

Coun Scott said the boost was for this year only, but it also gave the council more time to try to come up with a long-term plan to work alongside retailers and the city-centre partnership to light the city every year.


Reduced parking charges

AS well as the boost of festive lights this year, shoppers and traders could also be set to benefit from reduced parking charges in the run up to Christmas.

City of York Council leader Steve Galloway said the new system, which allows motorists to pay for parking by mobile phone, was proving very successful and they are keen to encourage more people to take up the system.

As an incentive, and to help city centre businesses and attractions, the council executive is now exploring whether people paying in that way can be offered a discount as an incentive.

Coun Galloway said: "There is a considerable advantage to users and to the council, in terms of running costs if people choose to use the pay-by-phone system, not least because it means that people can buy extensions to the amount of time they have in the car park."

He said discounts "would help city-centre activities at what is already a busy time."