Christmas trees and lights will be going up in communities across Glasgow.
Councillors have been approving spending for lighting displays and trees in local high streets to bring some festive cheer to the city streets.
The Glasgow Times has had a look at the 23 council wards and what they are spending money on this year.
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Each ward gets a budget of £3600 from the council and has to approve any additional spending from their own local budget.
There is a wide variation in spending across the city.
The cost of a 15ft to 18ft Christmas tree and lighting is noted as £3600 if it is located off-road and £5000 if it is on-road.
Street lighting columns are coming in at £3600 for eight or £450 each.
Across the city, more than £200,000 is planned for displays in communities with a wide variation in different areas.
Some areas are spending big on trees and lighting while others have stuck to the cash allocated by the council.
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The area with the biggest spend on lights, trees and decorations for streets is Canal ward, which includes Possilpark, Milton and Ruchill.
Councillors approved £30,000 for features at Saracen Cross, in Possilpark, lighting on natural trees at Bilsland Drive, Shannon Street and Murano Street, and Christmas trees erected at Bilsland Drive, Ruchill and Liddesdale Square, in Milton, lighting on trees at Hawthorn Street and features at Cadder Road.
The next biggest spend is in Southside central where £19,000 is expected to be spent on festive displays including trees at Millennium Square, Govanhill, and at Dixon Hall, Govanhill.
Approval was given for lighting on trees at Queen’s Park gates at Victoria Road and a third of the cost of a tree at Shawlands Cross.
The third highest was Drumchapel/Anniesland with £16,300 on a tree at Anniesland Cross and one at Kirkhope Roundabout in Drumchapel. It will also spend on lighting on natural trees at Hecla Park in Drumchapel.
Two other areas, Victoria Park and Anderston/City, are spending more than £15,000.
The areas spending the least amount are Hillhead at £2300 and Pollokshields, Newlands, Maryhill and Partick East/Kelvindale spending £3600 each.
Some councillors have expressed concern about the costs of a tree and lighting at £3600.
The cost is for staff to install the features and for the cost of the electricity for the lights.
Top five
Canal: £30,000
Southside Central: £19,000
Drumchapel/Anniesland: £16,300
Victoria Park: £15,700
Anderston/City: £15,300
Bottom five
Hillhead: £2300
Pollokshields: £3600
Newlands: £3600
Maryhill: £3600
Partick East/Kelvindale: £3600
In addition to the £200,000-plus for communities, the cost of lighting up George Square is set to be around £70,000. The council is yet to confirm a cost for the Christmas tree.
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council stated: "Christmas and New Year are always high points in the year and public lighting adds significantly to the sense of festivity in communities all across the city.
“Every area partnership across the city has been allocated £3600 from the council to spend on festive lighting and each partnership has the option to use their general budget to tailor displays in line with the expectations of their communities.
“The festive display in George Square is designed and managed in keeping with the square’s status as Glasgow’s main civic space and remains a major feature of the city’s Christmas experience.
“The budget for festive lighting goes towards installation and dismantling costs, electricity for the lights and appropriate storage for the lights that ensures they remain well maintained.”
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