I have resided in Lydney for almost 30 years now, love the area, and my family have been born and brought up here, educated here, and will most probably die here.

The issue I am writing to you about may not be top of anyone's priorities, but nevertheless it is an important one for the length of time they are in place, and that is the poor display of Christmas lights in Lydney.

They haven't changed in all this time, and are now becoming a bit of a standing joke.

Bits of metal strapped to a lamp post, some of which don't work, and the tree outside the Co-op only has lights on the top half, completely bare at the bottom. The road from the Town Hall to Tesco has absolutely nothing! This is part of Lydney as well you know.

They are looking tired, outdated and do nothing for the image of the town during the busy four week run up to Christmas.

I was in Chepstow recently and their display of lights is just on another planet to Lydney's. They are bright, vibrant and welcoming. Coming back into Lydney at night has the opposite effect, dark, gloomy, and unwelcoming. Even the lights outside the Town Hall have been unchanged during this time, and a lot of the bulbs are not working.

I appreciate we all have to work within budgets, but, come on Lydney, isn't it about time some thought and flair went into this once a year display. Go and survey some school children for their ideas if you haven't got any, and put the sparkle back into Christmas and the town, and maybe it will re-create an atmosphere that people will want to shop here.

Most people have far better displays on their homes than we have in the town!

– Dave Donoghue, Oakmead­ow, Lydney.