Walsall's illuminations going up for sale

Lights and display boards from the axed Walsall Illuminations are to be sold to raise extra money for the cash-strapped council, it emerged today.

The unwanted equipment is being made available to the likes of fetes and town shows to claw back cash now the event has been permanently scrapped.

Walsall Council admitted yesterday that the annual lights extravaganza will never return despite previously insisting it would make a comeback once the Arboretum restoration was completed.

Now the light boards, which in recent years have starred children's television favourites Dora Explorer, Postman Pat and Scooby Doo, are being put up for sale.

Council leader Mike Bird said: "We will be selling them off and looking for towns and villages who want them to put on a show or display.

"There may be organisers of fetes and celebrations interested and we will be seeing if there are any takers.

"The money will all go into the central revenue."

The last illuminations were held in 2008 — ahead of the £7.5 million transformation of the town's premier park.

Bridgnorth District Council hosted a Christmas display using lights borrowed from Walsall Council in 2009. An agreement was then reached for this to continue for another two years.

Walsall Illuminations launched in 1951 but was losing £200,000 a year towards the end and suffering from dwindling numbers.

They were temporarily scrapped for three years to allow for the park's restoration project. A working party was set up to look at the future of the historic attraction.

However, following more discussions the council, which has to save a total of £65m in the next three years, decided the attraction should not return.

The council is looking at creating an illuminated park area to fit in with the multi-million pound Arboretum revamp instead. The park's Grade II listed boathouse is being restored along with the bandstand

The illuminations had a long history in the town with even the energy crisis of 1975 or fuel protests not enough to stop it.

Major disruption came in 1998 when heavy rain caused Hatherton Lake in the park to flood, and the show had to be cancelled for one night.

In 1989 laser shows were added and in recent times the inclusion of children's favourites such as Thomas the Tank Engine and SpongeBob SquarePants.

The Illuminations had up to sixty thousand bulbs and required year-round planning.