Douglas Council Leader David Christian says it is ’time to set the record straight’ on a campaign to reinstate the capital’s festoon lighting.

A statement from Mr Christian said he is ’responding to widespread misinformation circulating regarding the council’s unanimous decision to replace the ageing festoon lighting with a new LED scheme as part of the promenade redevelopment project’.

Mr Christian said the new lighting columns, labelled ’ugly’ by those wish to see the festoon lights reinstated, have cost ratepayers over £800,000 but are ’estimated to be in the region of 16 per cent cheaper to run than the old scheme’.

He said: ’The matter of replacing the festoon lighting with a new LED scheme has been in the public domain for more than three years - and referred to in three consecutive council budgets, the contents of which were made public.

’The council respects and is committed to preserving the rich history of Douglas but there is much more to the town’s heritage than decorative lighting that is nearing the end of its life and becoming increasingly costly to maintain.’

And added: ’This new scheme is no off-the-shelf product.

’The new columns are bespoke, commissioned expressly for Douglas and there are no others like them anywhere else in the world.

’This is a customised scheme that will reflect the promenade’s important role as a gateway to the capital of the Isle of Man.’

’The festoons have performed sterling service for many years so, far from doing away with them altogether, they have been re-purposed and installed in Summerhill Glen and along the North Quay.’

A petition calling for the new lights to be scrapped, has been signed by over 1,750 people online, with physical copies in stores across the capital attracting more support for the festoon lights.