By Chris McKeon, Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCILLORS have been drawn into a war of words over Prescot’s Christmas celebrations.

The dispute over the date of Prescot Town Council’s “Christmas Cracker” event has seen one town councillor claim Knowsley Council is using “bully-boy tactics” while Knowsley’s leader has accused the town council of “humbug”.

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In an email sent to Prescot’s town clerk, a Knowsley Council officer claimed the town council did not have permission to hold its Christmas Cracker event on December 14 and would not receive permission because the borough council was running its own event with live reindeer on that day.

The officer said: “I would remind you that the borough council is already holding an event on Saturday, December 14.

“This event involves the use of live animals (reindeer) and as a result the authority is not in a position to nor will it be granting permission for any other activity within the centre on that day.

“The risk assessment for use of reindeer details that the animals cannot be used in an environment with amplified sound which may startle the animals. I’m sure you and your councillors will appreciate that the welfare of the animals and the safety of the public is the council’s top priority.”

However, Prescot town councillor Kai Taylor, who also represents the town on Knowsley Council, said permission for the event had already been granted.

Cllr Taylor said: “They are trying to stop another free, accessible event for Prescot residents.

“This just shows the bully-boy tactics they use.”

A spokesperson for Knowsley Council rejected this accusation, saying the local authority had acted “in good faith for the benefit of everyone in Prescot”.

The spokesperson said: “At present, Knowsley Council can confirm that not all of the necessary permissions have been applied for, or granted for Prescot Town Council to hold a Christmas event on 14 December.

“Borough Council officers advised the Town Council of the process to be followed. We also requested that they avoid the date of 14 December as a prior booking had been confirmed for reindeer (who we have been advised must not be exposed to loud noise) to visit the town centre on that date.

“Given that the town council had not followed this advice and relevant permissions were not in place we assumed this event would not be going ahead.

“Since we became aware that the Town Council did intend to proceed, we have once again reminded them of their obligations whilst doing all we can to help resolve the situation.”

Knowsley Council has since been able to rearrange its event for the preceding week, December 7, to avoid the clash.

The council spokesperson added: “We do not wish to be drawn into a disagreement or conflict with the Town Council or its members.

“The suggestion of ‘bully boy tactics’ is unfair and Knowsley Council thinks its actions in this situation clearly demonstrate we have acted in good faith for the benefit of everyone in Prescot.

“It’s great that local people have so much to look forward to in the town centre this Christmas and we hope it’ll be a very merry one for all.”

The dispute is the latest part of an ongoing row about Christmas events in Prescot, following Knowsley Council’s decision to take over the organisation of the town’s Christmas lights this year.

The town council has organised the lights for the past four years, but this December the borough council will handle the event in conjunction with Prescot Business Club having won a competition for £10,000-worth of lights from Blachere, the company that supplies Christmas lights to Harrods.

But Labour borough councillors have accused the Green-led town council of refusing to work with it and striking out on its own.

Last Thursday, Knowsley Council leader Graham Morgan tweeted: “I believe communities should come together at Christmas. So I was stunned to find out Prescot Town Council, after refusing an offer to work with Knowsley Council & local businesses to make this year’s switch on event bigger and better, now want to do their own thing! #bahhumbug”.

But in response, Liberal Democrat town councillor Mark Burke claimed the borough council had demanded Prescot Town Council contributed more than double its Christmas lights budget if it wanted to be associated with the event.

Instead, Cllr Burke said, the town council decided it would use its existing Christmas lights budget to pay for the event on December 14.