Powys town council had to battle to get their Christmas lights up this year

There were some fears that they would not be able to put the lights up in town this year after bureaucratic issues in getting all the permissions needed in place.

Town clerk Louise Hammond said: “It has been very difficult this year in getting our 178 licence from the trunk road agency. The licence is required to fix lighting across a trunk road and as a trunk road runs through Builth we have to obtain this licence.

“At one point we didn't think we would get any lights up in the town. We have worked really hard to try and get everything that was requested by the trunk road agency put in place. 

“But this has meant our installation costs doubled as we had to have different traffic management systems put in place and the installation took  twice as long as previous years.

“Thank you to all the councillors and volunteers who helped with the Christmas lights this year.”

The council reported that the revised estimate for installing the Christmas lights has now reached £4,600. Volunteers and the council work on the lights all year round, buying new lights and equipment and refurbishing old lights, to give the town a great display

Builth Wells County Councillor Jeremy Pugh congratulated the council for getting the lights put up.

At a meeting he said: “You have faced so many issues that would have forced many to give up, so well done for sticking with it.

“It was a disgrace what you have been put through and if I can help in anyway in the future please get in touch.

“No one deserves to go through what you have gone through especially when people are volunteering and giving their time for nothing.”