RED tape could threaten the future of a popular Christmas lights display in Hampshire that attracts thousands of visitors, it is feared.

The annual winter wonderland in a Hedge End cul-de-sac began as a bit of fun, but it has become a victim of its own success.

As numbers of visitors to Greyhound Close have risen, raising thousands for charity, record numbers of complaints have mounted up on surrounding roads.

Increased traffic and damage to grass verges cost £10,000 last year to put right.

Now council officials have come up with possible solutions – and are hoping the residents will help fund them.

But residents say they are not prepared to use funds donated to their charity causes to pay for traffic control measures and may have to pull the plug altogether to use the public donation to fund them, while another option from officials is to stop it altogether.

Councillors are to set debate whether to spend thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on efforts to solve the problems and save the future of the lights extravaganza.

The Greyhound Close display, which has raised £38,000 since it began in 2003, is held on private land, and authorities say they have have no actual powers to prevent it.

Last year’s display raised £18,000 for Naomi House Hospice, but as reported, the taxpayer picked up a £10,000 clear-up bill. Despite repeated pleas about sensible parking, signs, traffic cones and stewards, hundreds of visitors abandoned their vehicles on verges close by.

With record complaints about damaged verges, blocked driveways and dangerous parking, Hedge End Police, Eastleigh Borough Council and residents have met to talk over a number of proposals for signage and bollards to protect grass verges.

These include temporary posts along Maunsell Way, signs directing people to car parks, and no access signs, which the report says residents support.

Further measures are temporary posts along Tollbar Way, costing £1,000, and ‘no parking on verges’ signs on Tollbar Way and Maunsell Way, up to £6,000.

Others include traffic cones on nearby roads costing £300 per day or £1,400 for 40 cones and employing seven marshals for the peak 13 days costing £10,920.

But residents appear adamant they will not put donations towards the proposed traffic measures and hope a sponsor can be found to cover the extra costs.

Now borough councillors must decide at a meeting on Monday whether to fund some or all of the proposals, which if agreed would mean delaying or cancelling other projects. A council report warns it could set a precedent.

Hedge End Town councillor Bruce Tennent called on residents to use donations.

“I don’t know if the residents have thought about how much time and how many people get involved,” he said.

Greyhound residents told the Echo discussions were ongoing and nothing had been decided as they were waiting on the council’s decision.

One resident who did not want to be named added: “We already pay for the lights, the electricity. The whole point of people coming here is they are donating to a charity not to managing traffic.”

Another said he felt the clear-up cost had been exaggerated and residents had provided someone to fix the verges which was turned down because they had to be council workers.

Hedge End, West End and Botley Local Area Committee meets on Monday at 7pm.