Cash-strapped Cheshire West and Chester Council has revealed that changing the city centre Christmas decorations from red to green cost £5,500.

The red baubles, which cost £4,300, were only in place for one year – and sparked ‘Bauble-gate’ after a Tory councillor suggested the new Labour council had made a political statement in choosing red.

So will council taxpayers be full of festive cheer over the make-over or more Scrooge-like in declaring ‘Bah humbug’ on realising they will be shelling out for the new look?

And the council promises it will be ringing the changes each and every year from now on.

Red baubles on display in Chester over Christmas 2015.

Cllr Louise Gittins, cabinet member for communities and wellbeing, said: “We are confident that businesses and shoppers will like the lights and new decorations and that most importantly it supports a strong Christmas offer in the city, supports the local economy and ensures Chester is a great place to do business.

“In 2015 CH1 Chester BID and the council consulted businesses and residents about Christmas lights. As a result it was decided that we would make each year look different.

“We added red baubles to the Christmas decorations last year and we are putting up green baubles this year, both are Christmas colours and next year will be another surprise.”

New deputy leader of CWaC, Louise Gittins. Photo by Ian Cooper
Cllr Louise Gittins. Photo by Ian Cooper

Some people have commented that it seems too early for the Christmas lights to be installed in October, although the switch-on is less than a month away on Thursday, November 17.

Cllr Gittins responded: “As always the lights in Chester are being installed during October because it takes a number of weeks to put them up and test them. We also install decorations across the borough not just in Chester.”

A council spokesperson confirmed: “Last year the red baubles cost £4,300 and additional green baubles have cost £5,500.”

Green baubles have been strung up in Chester city centre prompting a few eyebrows to raise following last year's debate over the red Christmas decorations.

Niki Davies, owner of the Chester Health Store in Bridge Street Row, won't be impressed to discover the council has spent thousands of pounds just to change the colour of the baubles.

“We only had red one year!" she told The Chronicle, after spotting the green versions being installed.

The Chronicle has been told the red baubles will be kept in storage so could make a reappearance at some point in future.