PRESS RELEASE

 SWITCH ON DATE FOR NEXT CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS

 As the town’s Christmas lighting for 2004 was switched off at the weekend a new town council Christmas Illuminations Committee agreed to switch them on again on Saturday 19^th November.

 It all began in the early 1970s when a local businessman, John Fenton, complained the town looked dowdy. He offered to donate £10 towards lighting up the town if others would make the same gesture. His gesture was successful and for some years the town has enjoyed festive lighting at Christmas.

 When the town council agreed in November to take responsibility for the Christmas lighting after months of uncertainty fears that the festive lighting could finally be switched off permanently were forgotten by the group of hard working volunteers.  The Christmas illuminations committee had been facing crippling costs with £4,000 of the £7,000 financial support from the Town Council spent on insurance and health and safety. With just £3,000 of their budget left, replacing lighting and maintenance became more and more difficult. Last July the committee agreed there would be a final switch off on January 6.  The Town Council had regularly contributed to the Christmas illuminations over the years while local sponsorship dwindled to family businesses and local traders. 

Town Mayor Mrs Sylvia Olliver told the Observer,  "I am so happy the Christmas lights will continue. Without that £10, considered generous at the time, which attracted more funding, Bognor Regis could still be without Christmas illuminations. The festive lighting brings magic to the town, which the children love to see, and it also encourages visitors from outside Bognor Regis to shop here boosting the local economy. People often tell me they bring their children to see the lights and go shopping at the same time. The Town Council has always tried to help local businesses. We sponsor a number of events throughout the year for residents and to encourage visitors to our town." 

THE WAY AHEAD

At the first meeting of the new town council committee councillor Rob Gillibrand was elected chairman and Adrian Hay, chairman of the former Christmas lighting group, and Pip Frederick, the group’s secretary, became non-voting co-opted members. Other councillors who are members of the committee are the Town Mayor, Mrs Jenny Gillibrand (vice chairman) Mr Ken Scutt and Mrs Jeanette Warr.  

Chairman Rob Gillibrand said, “This is a very exciting time for Bognor Regis and with the Town Council behind the Christmas lights it will help to facilitate new ideas and partnerships with other interested bodies. I would like to see the November switch on become a much bigger event with live music and Santa riding a sleigh through the London Road. We will be discussing this and many other ideas through the coming year”. 

He added, “I realise there are many issues around the lack of commercial sponsorship, but perhaps with a more meaningful event it may increase the profile of the town as a more rewarding Christmas shopping experience and bring more people into the town, helping to change the perceptions of the retail sector.” 

Adrian Hay, who had worked with the festive lights for 30 years and who admitted he was “passionate” about the Christmas lights, said he was very pleased to be part of the new committee and would help all he could. Pip Frederick said there had been times when the volunteers considered abandoning the festive lighting, but they had been persuaded to continue by Adrian Hay “for the sake of the children”. 

It was agreed the official handover of the lighting units and supporting system will be at the end of January. Deputy Town Clerk Glenna Frost said the estimated insurance costs as part of the town council’s insurance package, would be hundreds of pounds rather than thousands.  Delighted at this news Adrian Hay suggested this would eventually release funds from the budget for new units. 

Adrian Hay said the last three years had been spent easing the installation of the lighting system and panels could now be plugged into sockets allowing the illuminations to be dismantled in half a day. At the meeting the committee agreed that a contract should be offered to a local electrical contractor. The contractor would be responsible for erecting the Christmas lights, maintenance and repairs during the festive lighting period with regular inspections, setting up the lighting up system, and removing the lights in January. Information will be posted on the town council’s notice board and will be available from the town council offices at the Town Hall. Anyone expressing an interest should contact the town council on 01243 867744 by the 31st January.  

From Jeanne Hambleton