The cost of Oldham Council’s Christmas lights switch-on event has been calculated at more than £60,000 – according to the authority's own figures.

Oldham Council revealed that the Christmas lights switch on cost £60,286 in response to a Freedom of Information Act request sent by The Oldham Times last month.

This is a cost of about 25p per person – adult and child – who lives in the borough.

The information comes a month after it was revealed that the council spent more than £40,000 on its Big Bang Bonfire event – despite many other local councils cancelling similar events.

ALSO READ: Council spends more than £40k on Big Bang Bonfire this year.

The Christmas lights were lit at an event outside the Old Town Hall on Saturday, November 19.

The annual event, which was free to attend, included a theatrical performance by Oldham Theatre Workshop and a fireworks show.

The following Saturday, November 26, saw Santa’s reindeer parade in the town centre.

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “Oldham Town centre plays host to three fantastic Christmas events each year. 

"Residents tell us that these events are much loved and that people, me included, have treasured memories of attending these events with their families.

“Residents throughout the borough have had a difficult few years, we have dealt with the Coronavirus pandemic and now many families are struggling because of the Cost of Living emergency.

“This is why we decided these events should go ahead, to ensure that families had something free to enjoy. 

“We also know that the events are important for our town centre high street businesses, not only do they increase footfall, but they also generate revenue for our businesses that have also struggled over the last years. 

“I know that people may question the cost of the event in the current climate, but research carried out at the event confirms that the economic benefit for us holding the Christmas light switch on is that for every £1 we spent we generate £2.64 for the local economy.”   

Oldham Council said this figure was calculated using a standard methodology used across Greater Manchester, which combines survey data from those visiting the event with data from town centre footfall counters to calculate the additional spending generated by the event.

Furthermore, the council clarified the £2.64 figure applies to the full Christmas events schedule, not just the light switch on.