COUNCILLORS in Bromsgrove have criticised county bosses for forcing the district to step in and ensure Rubery gets some Christmas cheer.

Bromsgrove District Council's recreation, amenities and tourism committee voted last Tuesday night to contribute £12,000 for new lampposts which will allow the threatened Christmas lights display to go-ahead.

Worcestershire County Council had proposed to refurbish the lampposts at a reduced cost, but this would not make them strong enough to hold Christmas lights and would put the display at risk.

For the full replacement lamps necessary, the county council asked the district to pay half.

But district council leader Cllr Nick Psirides (Con, Norton), who proposed the motion, said: "The timing is nothing more than putting a gun to our heads."

The committee complained that street lighting was the county council's responsibility and it was trying to shirk its duties because of overspending.

Cllr Margaret Oliver (Con, Hagley) said: "It is a total outrage.

"We should not be bullied by a county council which is unable to manage its own affairs."

But the town's Labour leader Cllr Peter McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley), who also serves on the county council, criticised the district authority for being miserly in scrapping a proposed jogging trail in the village to pay for the lights.

He said: "This is a very rich council.

"I don't see why the good people of Rubery should suffer by withdrawing the Trim Trail."