BLACKPOOL businesses have been slammed for donating a lacklustre £90,000 to the Illuminations which cost £2.4million a year to stage.

The vast bulk of lights funding still comes from ratepayers, despite hotels, shops, pubs and leisure facilities taking more than £200 million during the extra 10 weeks the Illuminations add to the season.

So far this year, the Illuminations sponsorship fund stands at just £70,000, though organisers expect it to rise to last year's total of around £90,000 by the end of the year - still less than FOUR per cent of the total.

Blackpool Council sends out 3,000 letters a year asking for Illuminations support, and hotel associations also appeal to members, but one fundraiser said: "It's like trying to get blood out of a stone."

Head of tourism Jane Seddon said: "Some businesses, like the Choice Hotel group, the Queens, the Sheraton really do give large sums and show their support," she said. "But others seem to regard it like a charity - some just give £1."

She hoped for more success with a new approach next year. If the council approves, donors could see their names up in lights alongside their favourite tableau.

"If people could adopt a tableau they could physically see what they were putting their money into it may help," she said. Tourism executive Coun George Bancroft said: "The only way in which the illuminations can be improved is by more money coming forward from private enterprise - the council has numerous calls on its resources and money is always tight."

Main targets for criticism are not small traders but large businesses like pub-chains and brewers -among the biggest Illuminations earners and worst contributors. Only Thwaites - a regular supporter - has given £1,000 this year.

Scottish and Newcastle spokeswoman Georgina Jones said: "We are always keen to play a part in local community activity. However, as we constantly receive requests from different organisations asking for support we have nominated specific charities and awards which benefit from our fundraising."

The firm did contribute to Blackpool's CCTV scheme, she pointed out.

A Bass Taverns spokesman said they had relatively few pubs in the area, but: "We look at every request for support - if they approach us again we will consider it."

Said Coun Bancroft: "They really ought to be looking at ways we can all benefit - businesses, the town and ratepayers - from a better, more improved Illuminations."

The sponsorship fund does not include special advertising illuminations designed and paid for by major organisations like the McDonalds fast food chain, Eddie Stobart road transport and Norweb.

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