The world famous Blackpool Illuminations will cost almost £2million to run this year amid the cost of living crisis.
As a result of the mega energy bills, the illumination organisers have decided to switch to eco-friendly lightbulbs and renewable energy to help power the dazzling lights. The world famous attraction, which uses more than one million bulbs and was first held in 1879, was switched on by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on Friday.
The cost of running the lights along the seaside resort will set back Blackpool Council a whopping £1.758m for their four month run. Despite soaring energy costs forcing Christmas light displays elsewhere to be cancelled, the illuminations are expected to bring in more than £300m to the local economy.
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Council chiefs in the resort say they have been steadily switching to LED bulbs which has seen its electricity bill cut by 75% in last 20 years. However, Blackpool Council fears costs will rise even more sharply next year.
A spokesperson said: "The Illuminations team has been forward thinking and as a result, over the last number of years has already reduced the energy consumption by 75% since 1999 levels with the change to LED displays and use of 100% renewable energy. The work that has been undertaken over a number of years has meant that we are in the strongest position possible but we can’t beat the market and are predicting our cost will go up over the next year.”
Millions flock to the seaside resort on the Lancashire Coast every year to see the lights, which was first introduced to extend tourism in the town beyond the summer months. Merlin Entertainment, which runs Blackpool Tower, said the illuminations brought an "extra key trading period" when other towns saw a dip in visitors at the end of the school holidays.
Last year it attracted around 10 million visitors between September and December, generating more than £300m to the local economy, the council said. A spokesperson added: "Any increased energy costs will be contained within the existing Illuminations budget with spending on materials being reduced.
“The illuminations receives various income contributions, including sponsorship and investment through Town Deal funding. Visitor insight data for 2021 shows that the extended Illuminations season attracted around 10 million visitors on to the promenade between September and the end of December, generating more than £300m of spend and providing a huge boost to the local economy."
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