Castletown’s Christmas celebration will be ’low key’ this year, a commissioner has admitted.

The usual switch-on won’t happen and there are no fireworks.

Instead there will be songs - carols and popular Christmas tunes - around the tree, Santa’s grotto and a Christmas food and craft market on Saturday, December 7 from 4.30pm.

Town commissioners’ chairman Richard McAleer said: ’The main changes are that there will be no fireworks.

’This is due to complaints received after last year and concerns over health and safety. The glow sticks will also be absent. This is a response to efforts to reduce the consumption of single use plastics.

’The stage will also be absent and there are no plans to have a formal switch on ... to make it low key.

’I accept that not all of these decisions have gone down well with some people, but the overall feedback we are getting is less negative.’

He added: ’Unfortunately we currently do not have any choirs , which I believe is an unfortunate breakdown in communication. If any choirs would like to sing in front of the tree from 3.30pm to 4.30pm they would be very welcome.’

’I am pleased to announce that Santa will be in his grotto and his lookalike will be in situ on top of the Smelt.’

Regarding the budget he said: ’We had a huge wishlist of projects in January one of which was £50,000 to replace the lights.

’The board chose other projects to pursue.

’There is another round of budget planning due shortly and if this is something that the ratepayers of Castletown want us to invest in it can be done.’

Comments on Facebook show some residents aren’t happy. One wrote: ’There is NOT an official switch-on of Castletown’s Christmas tree and lights this year.

’Apparently, if you can believe this, due to budget pressures. It is the children that matter, and it is they, during the few years they are children, that are excited and retain fond memories of such occasions. Sadly not this year.’

Another said: ’Hope we are not becoming politically correct by not having a crib or Christmas carols.’

Others were in support of a more traditional event with songs around the tree.