SCOTLAND'S biggest city council has been criticised for spending £500,000 more than any other city on Christmas decorations this year.
Glasgow budgeted £763,000 on making the city look festive, £623,000 more than Edinburgh. In the last three years the council has spent £2.1 million on decorations for the city.
Glasgow Life, the body that runs museums, libraries and sports facilities and events, also spent £102,000 on their switch-on ceremony, the costs included staging, security, fireworks, infrastructure such as barriers, toilet facilities and road closures.
Edinburgh council spent the second most, with an annual budget of £140,000 for the installation of Christmas trees in various locations throughout the city, lighting column decorations, the installation of a tree on the Mound, cross street decoration, City Chambers Star, local switch on ceremonies, City Chambers projection and pole mounted decoration on the Royal Mile.
Aberdeen spent £125,000 on decorating this year, up on the £121,291 spent last year, but less than the £136,101 spent on making the city look festive the year before that.
Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "There is simply no need for Glasgow to blow half a million on the festivities."
A spokesman for Glasgow Life, who arranged the switch-on ceremony, defended the areas the council spent the money on.
He said: "There was no cost for 'talent', as we used panto stars and choirs instead of a well-known celebrity."
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