A FLEETWOOD councillor has accused Wyre Council of deliberately shunning a late offer to fund the town's Christmas lights.
Councillor Clive Grunshaw has rubbished Wyre's explanation of why an 11th hour offer of £2,000 for Fleetwood could not be accepted.
The offer to fund the lights was made two weeks ago, when an organisation anonymously made inquiries about the situation, offering to stump up £2,000 if Wyre could match it.
The authority said the offer had to be declined because it was too late - arrangements for festive lights needed to be finalised by the summer.
But Coun Grunshaw said this week: "This explanation is simply ridiculous! The festive lights are in storage and all it needs is for some work men to put it up.
"The simple reason is a lack of will from the council.
"And the only explanation I can think of for the lack of will is reluctance by Wyre to match fund the £2,000 themselves.
"Once again Fleetwood loses out is treated with contempt by the powers that be."
The Pharos ward representative had already been in the thick of an earlier argument over festive lights some weeks ago.
He attempted to "call in" the original decision by the council to allow for funding for Poulton and Garstang, but to snub Fleetwood lights because of debts owing from previous years.
He added: "That decision to allow lights for Poulton was made in November 9, not summer!"
But Wyre Council insists the late offer, though generous, was too late and that the timetable had to be adhered to for technical reasons.