A TORY councillor has been dubbed a “Scrooge” after supporting objections from Blackheath businesses to road closures for the Christmas lights switch on.

Councillor Mary Docker, who is secretary of the Blackheath Business and Community Association, said a ballot of members last year resulted in a unanimous “no” to closing the town centre roads for the event during the recession.

But when she took the struggling traders’ pleas to the Labour-run Sandwell Council, cabinet member for safer neighbourhoods Councillor Derek Rowley accused her of being like Scrooge.

“Mary Docker is just trying to cause trouble for this local authority and trying to spoil what is a Christmas event for Blackheath. If she was a man I’d call her Mr Scrooge,” he said.

Cllr Rowley, who attended Blackheath’s festive switch on for the first time last year, estimated the turnout was between 400 and 500.

He said roads were not closed until about 4.30pm, when shops would normally be preparing to close, although most stayed open to take advantage of the late afternoon influx.

But Cllr Docker accused the council of ignoring the wishes of the traders and claimed that only about 200 people turned up last year to watch BBC Midlands Today presenter Michael Collie flick the switch.

She said: “The switch on was instigated by me in 1994 and was a successful and well-attended occasion organised by the BBCA until the council took it over in 2007.”

“Since then numbers have dwindled from around 5,000 to under 200 people, as the amount of attractions like the funfair and fireworks have been cut.”

Cllr Docker added : “Cllr Rowley is talking a load of bunkum.”

This year’s switch on will again be by Michael Collie on Friday November 26 at 6pm with road closures allowed to take effect from 3pm.