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Diwali switch-on cancellation a huge blow - MP

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Leicester East MP Shivani Raja said businesses would be hit hard by lost revenue

A Leicester MP has said a cost-cutting decision to cancel the city's Diwali lights switch-on event this year will be a "huge blow" to businesses.

The city normally celebrates the Festival of Light with two events - a switch-on of illuminations along the Golden Mile on Belgrave Road, and a later fireworks display and funfair on Diwali Day.

The famous lights along the Golden Mile will still be turned on this year but without a dedicated event to mark it, Leicester City Council has announced.

Shivani Raja, who represents Leicester East in Parliament, criticised the decision.

She said businesses in Belgrave relied on trade generated from huge crowds attending the switch-on.

"It will be a huge blow to the city. Figures shared with me [by the council] show the Diwali lights switch-on costs £120,000," she said.

"So for the sake of £120,000, local businesses are potentially going to lose out."

A woman in glasses and a grey top with a deep v neck smiles at the camera. Behind her is a blurred background that looks like a shop window
Enna Lakhani said businesses would try to raise money to restore the event in 2025

The city council said the cost of staging two major Diwali events had increased from £189,000 in 2018, to almost £250,000 because of rising traffic management, security, and associated infrastructure expenses.

The authority said it had been unable to find an affordable way to hold both events and had decided to consolidate them after consulting businesses and the community.

Crowds in Belgrave Road illuminated by Diwali lights
The council said details of a Diwali Day celebration would be announced in the coming weeks

Assistant mayor for culture Vi Dempster said: "The lights will still go on, the businesses will still be open.

"There will still be that vibrancy and a huge amount to celebrate."

She said further details of the remaining Diwali Day festivities, on 31 October, would be announced in the coming weeks.

Enna Lakhani, secretary of the Belgrave Business Association, said she was saddened by the switch-on cancellation.

"People will expect it to happen and it is not going to," she said.

"We want [the celebrations] back to two days next year.

"We will try our best as an association to get some money in."

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