PLANS to enhance a village’s Christmas lights display have been blocked by East Lothian Council.

Hard-working volunteers are preparing for the festive season but have seen their plans for more lights in the village knocked back.

Lights have been in place on trees opposite West Barns Bowling Club for 20 years.

At the same time, about a dozen lampposts through West Barns have been lit up.

This year, there will not be lights on the trees opposite the bowling club and plans to increase the number of lampposts being decorated have also been halted.

East Lothian Council has said that it is conducting “a compliance survey” ahead of a review of all festive light set-ups, focusing on safety.

'A bit of a knock'

Ian Thorburn, who is one of the Christmas lights volunteers, was left frustrated by the decision.

He said: “We are self-sufficient and don’t get any help at all from the council.

“We have to go through the community council now and again, and they give us a small donation, but we do it all ourselves, we raise the money ourselves.

“This year, there will not be lights on the trees outside the bowling club or the four extra lampposts.

“We will still have the big tree and lampposts.”

The switch-on of the lights in the village will take place on November 30.

The decision has also frustrated Andrew Ashton, chairman of West Barns Community Council.

He said: “It would be disappointing because everybody looks forward to a wee bit of happiness at Christmas time.

“It makes a huge difference to not just the villagers but people that drive through.

“They have been there for 20 years and it would be a shame if we cannot have them up this year.

“As far as I am led to believe, East Lothian Council have come down pretty hard on them, putting in obstacles that were not there before.

“It would be a shame, especially for a small village.

“They do their best, a small committee, and work hard trying to brighten things up at Christmas time.

“For somebody to come along and say 'no' is a bit of a knock.”

'Discussions ongoing'

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said that discussions remained “ongoing with all parties”.

They said that the lights on the trees had been "vandalised" and would not work.

And they added: “All Christmas lights displays in East Lothian are funded and managed by community councils with support from East Lothian Council.

“East Lothian Council have recently issued a compliance survey to all community councils, the purpose of which is to gather information to allow a review to be undertaken of all existing festive light set-ups, focusing on safety.

“Whilst this survey is ongoing, we are unable to authorise any new electrical connections across East Lothian.

“The outcome of the survey will ensure that all festive light set-ups are compliant with the current standards.

“Discussions remain ongoing with all parties.”