A FESTIVE Christmas lights event forced to pull the plug over storm damage and surging insurance costs has sparked an angry confrontation between the local SNP and Labour councillor in the town.
West Lothian Council’s executive approved the cancellation of the Starry Nights festive lights event at Beecraigs Country Park in Linlithgow, with a meeting of West Lothian Council’s executive hearing that Bathgate firm GC Live offered to make an “exit” payment of £30,000 to the council.
The Bathgate-based firm had faced practical issues in planning this year’s event after Beecraigs was badly damaged in winter storms. The firm also face an increased demand in insurance fees which is understood to be weather related.
A report to the executive said: “Changes in market conditions — particularly due to increased storm risk — have made it impossible for event organisers, GC Live, to secure the level of insurance required to safely host the event.”
The executive agreed that GC Live’s five year agreement be terminated “with immediate effect and by mutual consent.”
The £30,000 “exit payment” will go directly into open spaces and local facilities such as parks and play areas. Beecraigs, which sits at one of the highest point in West Lothian, was particularly badly damaged in the winter storms.
However at the meeting, local SNP councillor Pauline Orr slated the decision which awarded the contract to GC Live in 2024.
GC Live Ltd runs winter festivals across the country including in Glasgow, Dundee and Angus, as well as local Christmas light shows.
There was anger in Linlithgow in December 2023 when Rowen Events, the town-based team which had first set up the festive event in 2019, were told they would have to go into a bidding war to keep the event.
The council is obliged to reissue the contract after the agreed lease date expires. However Rowen Events chose not to bid to retain the light show.
Orr said: “I put to you all, officers and administration that, as a council, you have failed the communities of West Lothian.
“Rowen Events came to you in good faith with an idea of a winter themed attraction that would build tourism for the area and support community wealth building. The decision you took to put it out to tender resulted in an inferior event which was words of the community I’m proud to represent an ‘absolute shambles’. You showed no respect to local people and their community spirit.”
Fellow Linlithgow councillor Tom Conn rounded on Orr and asked who she was representing here as a councillor. "Was it Rowen Events, the people of Linlithgow or the council?" he demanded to know.
“I am stunned by that statement. I thought we were here as representatives of West Lothian Council and not as representatives of a private business and the officers to be criticised in that way, and their professional judgement being called into question in such a way as I find really disheartening.
Orr’s statement “was extraordinary,” he added.
“I have knowledge of the previous operator and the way in which they conducted their business and how they actually engaged with officers which I won’t publicise because I don’t think it’s appropriate, but to start throwing comments such as you have Councillor Orr at officers who can’t defend themselves. I find it bizarre.
“Bringing in a third party [into this discussion] I really find extraordinary that you think this is forum to represent the interests of a private company
Council leader Lawrence Fitzpatrick said that in 26 years as a councillor he had never heard “such an outrageous attack on the integrity of our officers.”
“Our officers are committed to public service,” he added.
Depute SNP group leader councillor Pauline Stafford told the meeting that her group “absolutely are not questioning the professionalism of officers.”
“What we are questioning is the drive and vision of this council administration which I know you don’t like to hear. We have raised on numerous occasions that we need more focus on tourism. We are blessed with incredible natural resources and heritage sites. What we are questioning here is the lost opportunity here.”
Fitzpatrick said: “I’m sorry but I clearly heard an attack on the professionalism of the officers.”
