I was busy reading through planning committee papers earlier today when the following message flashed up on Twitter on the Reading hashtag - #rdg - in Twitter-speak.
"Why the f*** are the Christmas lights on during the day in Reading Town Center?? What a waste"
I wasn't following the correspondent but I was keen to find out more, so I tweeted him back offering to get in touch with Reading Borough Council for some answers.
Another couple of tweets flashed up:
"Thanks it's not that hard to have them come on when it's dark, a la street lights. It was the same last year too.
"It's almost as bad as the shops leaving their lights on at night. Who wants to be walking through #rdg at 4am and window shop?"
I immediately got in touch with Cllr Paul Gittings, Labour's Lead Member for the Environment, and self-appointed climate change champion.
He wasn't aware that the lights were being left on during the day.
I pointed out that leaving Christmas lights on was not particularly environmentally-sensible, especially as the Council recently signed up to the national 10:10 campaign for action now on climate change.
On the Council's pledge, Cllr Gittings said at the time:
"10:10 is a great way to build on the work the council is already doing to reduce emissions. We hope that by stepping out in this way more groups and individuals will sign up to 10:10 and sign the local climate change pledge".
And at last week's Reading 2020 Forum meeting where climate change was the main topic up for discussion Cllr Jo Lovelock was at pains to demonstrate the Council's committment to doing more to reduce carbon emissions in Readng.
I hear Reading West Labour MP, Martin Salter was also vocal in his support for action at a recent meeting of the Greater Reading Environmental Network.
And yet his Labour colleagues in Parliament overwhelming rejected a Lib Dem motion calling for Parliament to sign up to 10:10 campaign.in October.
So I have to say I found Cllr Gittings' response to my email today: "I'm not sure about the facts re the Xmas lights" a bit disappointing. True, Christmas lights are not directly the responsibility of the Council (shops pay for them as part of the Business Improvement District) but the Council should have a say.
Surely it is Cllr Gitting's job to ensure that environmental sustainbility lies at the heart of all local decisions and activities that the Council and local businesses are involved in?
Anyway, Cllr Gittings promised to look into the Christmas lights and get the issue of shops leaving their lights on all night on the local agenda via the Reading Business Improvement District and Reading CIC (the local economic development company).
I mentioned the issue to Linda Fort at the Evening Post and she was able to find out that the light-bulbs that are being used are low-energy bulbs - which is something.
But do these lights have to be blazing all day? This simply does not make finanical or environmental sense.
Christmas lights in the Town Centre are very visible. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas lights.
But what message does leaving them on all day send out about environmental responsibility?
I'm afraid this episode goes to show again for all the fine words from Labour politicians in Reading about tackling climate changes there is still far too little action, far too little leadership.
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