A COUNCIL accused of being a festive light ‘Scrooge’ has apologised for the ‘bah -humbug’ way it handled concerns about cost and office safety.

On Friday, a message was circulated to all Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council staff telling them – “we do not allow plug in Christmas tree lights in any of our office buildings” and that staff must remove “all plug in Christmas tree lights”.

The top reason given for this was: “They waste energy, costing the council money”, claimed independent councillor Steve Kay.

However, a leading council officer has apologised for the harsh message that was sent out.

Cllr Kay, who represents the Lockwood ward, said: “This instruction beggars belief. Surely even our cash-strapped council can afford a couple of quid so staff can have a bit of merriment at Christmas. With another 100 jobs on the line, staff morale is at rock-bottom. Banning lights to save a negligible amount of money is the last straw. We’ve got a Christmas tree and outdoor Christmas music at the Council’s Redcar HQ, so why not a few lights?

“The present Labour leadership seems to have a thing about lights and, as part of the budget cuts, is preparing to throw large tracts of our borough into darkness in the middle of the night.

“Labour always gets its knickers in a twist over Christmas. A few years ago they tried to deny Christmas altogether by insisting on calling Christmas lights Festive lights.

“I know staff are extremely unhappy about this latest attack on Christmas and, more important, their morale, as public servants.

“As this is the season of goodwill, I hope the leadership will relent. But somehow, I don’t think even the fearful Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come could persuade them to change their joyless minds.”

John Sampson, the council’s director of corporate resources, accepted the email had been sent and apologised for the wording.

He said: “A message was sent to all staff last week after some plug-in lights were left on all night, causing a safety concern. I am sorry that staff were contacted in this manner and regret the offence this has caused. I have written to staff to apologise. Christmas tree lights have not been banned.

“I simply wanted to make sure that staff were safe by getting lights properly tested and switching them off at night.

“The reference to the council’s budget was inappropriate as a few Christmas lights makes no difference whatsoever to our budget and it is important that we get the balance right between saving money and encouraging people to celebrate Christmas in a traditional way.”