Oxford City Council has decided to cancel the Children's Lantern Parade, part of the Oxford Christmas Light Festival in the city centre this year and is currently in discussions to cancel the rest of the 3 day event. This is due to complaints from certain University Colleges which described the event,extremely popular with local residents and families as 'tawdry', official Oxford Dictionary definition, 'cheap, gaudy, vulgar'. An example of how local residents are perceived by staff and students of the Colleges. The Lantern Parade, made up of local school children, many from very deprived areas in Oxford,has become a real Oxford institution and is one event that really brings local people together in what is a very economically and culturally divided city. This event is extremely important to all residents of Oxford .Please sign my petition and pass onto anyone you know to save this event, I am hoping for 10,000 signatures. Many thanks for all your support

Please see below,a news report regarding the cancellation.

http://oxfordstudent.com/2014/03/25/exclusive-anger-as-colleges-call-st-giles-christmas-fair-tawdry-and-poor-quality/