Councillors have scrapped a popular Christmas event, claiming the festive season has become "too commercial".
The annual Wynterfest celebration will not take place in Wymondham this year after members of the town council voted in favour of "more low-key" festivities.
The usual team of volunteers behind the event, known as Clear Company, dropped out of the project due to stretched resources after launching a new community venue in the town.
This left the council scrabbling to determine Wynterfest's future. It may never be celebrated again after councillors voted to scale it back, citing fears that Christmas had become "all about buying things".
The authority has already faced scrutiny for its decision to call off a long-running Boxing Day parade through the town centre, breaking decades of tradition.
WHAT IS WYNTERFEST?
The event, which first launched in 2016, took place in Wymondham town centre each year and hosted a range of activities.
More than 1,000 people usually turn up to enjoy around 60 market stalls, alongside attractions such as a Santa's grotto, lantern parade and fairground rides.
Julie Briggs, director of Clear Company, said: "We need to focus all our time and resources into our new project.
"This year's plans for a Wymondham Christmas event looked like they may have involved consultations, reshaping, and fundraising that we just don't have capacity for.
"It's a huge undertaking for our team of volunteers. While we'd have loved to do Wynterfest again after a great event last year, we have to prioritise the development of our studio and shop and covering the considerable running costs involved."
CHRISTMAS IS 'TOO COMMERCIAL'
The responsibility for saving the event fell to Wymondham Town Council and members met to discuss its future at a meeting last month.
While councillors pledged £1,000 in funds towards a festive lights switch-on event, they agreed that Wynterfest should not return this year as it it had strayed too far from the 'true meaning of Christmas'.
Suzanne Nuri-Nixon, chairwoman of the council and mayor of the town, said: "Wynterfest has been successful for many years and has grown quite large, but we also know that a lot of volunteer energy was needed for the amount of planning it requires.
"I'm passionate that we do mark Christmas but perhaps not on the scale that it has been done before. I want to bring it back to the core values of community as it shouldn't just be about commercialism and buying things."
Mrs Nuri-Nixon added that she didn't want to "set a precedent" and suggested the town council may not offer financial support for festivities in years to come.
COUNCIL SCROOGES?
Locals attending the meeting suggested the authority should be doing more to bring the festive spirit to Wymondham.
Tony Vale, who lives in the town, proposed that more funds could be offered, or community spaces provided for groups.
He said: "Where Wynterfest scored was that there was an overarching element and potential participants were identified and actually encouraged to take part.
"Perhaps the council could consider covering the cost of hireable venues."
However, councillor Alex Perry said the authority would be supporting these organisations with publicity, rather than financial help.
He stressed that Christmas in Wymondham would be "about more than one event" this time round. The council are working with local group Rebel Arts to arrange musical performances throughout the season.
The authority recently voted to nix an annual Boxing Day celebration, which has seen a hunt parade through the town centre and dates back to at least the 1960s.
Councillors put a stop to the event over fears that the organisers, the Dunston Harriers, are "terrorising" animals.
Some in the town have spoken in favour of the meet, however, claiming it brings people into the area and helps local business. They accuse councillors of prioritising their personal beliefs over the wishes of locals.
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