Ore Mountains' Lights Tour Cancelled at the Last Minute
Annaberg (Saxony) - Originally, a fleet of 100 vibrantly lit trucks and tractors were set to parade through Annaberg-Buchholz for three hours on Saturday. However, plans had to be scrapped at the eleventh hour.
The tour's route had been approved provisionally by the district administration. Yet, snags arose.
Frustration Over Bureaucratic Hurdles
Transport and Road Construction Office in Dresden, where the State Office is based, has imposed certain conditions that could not be met. The haulage entrepreneur, Leon Meyer, feels scandalized. "Only 20 vehicles were allowed in total, and each one needed a special permit, which takes time and money," he fumed.
Mayor's Disappointment
Mayor Rolf Schmidt found this bureaucratic blockade bewildering. He shared his astonishment on Facebook stating, "I can't comprehend how a few high-salary bureaucrats, supported by the state government's ministers, have thwarted the lights display."
Instead, a stationary event has been planned for Annaberg's Kätplatz from 3 pm on Saturday.
Delay in Supply of LED Bulbs
The real culprit behind the lights tour cancellation might be an unexpected delay in the arrival of ceramic yellow LED bulbs. Originally set to arrive in early February, these bulbs were now expected in March, thanks to retaliatory tariffs on American imports instituted following the US' announcement of a 10% tariff on imports from China[3].
Despite the cancellation, the holiday spirit remains alive in the Ore Mountains, as alternative celebrations are put in place.
Source:
Enrichment Data: The unusual circumstances behind the cancellation of the Ore Mountains lights tour in Annaberg-Buchholz come from an unexpected hurdle in the supply chain: a delay in the arrival of ceramic yellow LED bulbs due to retaliatory tariffs on American imports in response to the US' 10% tariff imposed on China.
