TEST Valley Borough Council has been accused of neglecting Romsey after its decision to axe funding for the town’s Christmas lights.

Romsey Town mayor, Mark Cooper, said: “What with the closure of TVBC’s Dutton’s Road headquarters, and now the abandonment of the Christmas Lights funding, Test Valley’s seeming withdrawal from Romsey continues: it’s a pity they can’t withdraw some of the housing allocations they want to dump on the town as well.”

Romsey Town Council has agreed to find the £7,500 which TVBC gives to Romsey Chamber of Commerce for the lights.

TVBC leader, Ian Carr, said: “It is appropriate that Romsey Town Council is brought into line with Andover Town Council and parish councils across Test Valley, where responsibility for funding items such as this is met locally. This decision ensures equality across the borough.”

The 2012 lights switch-on at 6.30pm on Saturday, November 24, when Esther Rantzen, joined by the stars of the Plaza Pantomine, will be flicking the switch to light up the town. For more on this story, see this week's Romsey Advertiser, out now>/b>