Pateley Bridge may have lost its Christmas late night shopping event this year but the town has rallied round to ensure it will sparkle during the festive season.
The Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Councillor Mike Holt, was keen to highlight the efforts that have been made and to point out that Christmas in the town has not been cancelled.
Cllr Holt told the Stray Ferret:
“While the town council, along with traders is disappointed that the coronavirus crisis means we can’t hold the late night shopping event in December, Pateley Bridge will not be missing out on the festivities.”
He said the town had been forced to take a “longer-term view” because of the social distancing requirements caused by the coronavirus crisis. But organisations had pulled together. He added:
“Pateley Bridge High Street – which will have enhanced Christmas decorations – is alive and kicking, with new openings this year.
“A collective effort has seen the town council working alongside Nidderdale Chamber of Trade, Harrogate Borough Council and the local community and we will be in a better position than many other places.”
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Cllr Holt added:
“Christmas markets in Harrogate and Knaresborough have been cancelled because of restrictions on large-scale gatherings and earlier this year the highly-popular scarecrow trails across Nidderdale also had to be called off, for the same reason.”
The Mayor of Pateley Bridge Councillor Mike Holt
HBC will be providing two large Christmas trees and a successful Christmas lights appeal led by the Chandler family, who own the Spar Shop and the bakers Yorkshire Born & Bread, along with the owners of Dales Market Corner and and Park View Stores, has raised thousands of pounds.
The money will be used to maintain and improve the lights in the town.
In previous years the purchase, maintenance, erection and storage of the Christmas lights and displays, and the two large Christmas trees for the town, has been funded by HBC and Pateley Bridge Town Council, but financial cutbacks have meant that greater emphasis has been put on fundraising among local retailers and residents.
Cllr Holt said:
“The fact that we have been able to raise enough money to improve the lights this difficult, lockdown year speaks volumes for the people of Pateley Bridge.”
Cut price Xmas trees to help boost Christmas spirit in Knaresborough
Knaresborough Chamber of Trade is finding new ways to bring the Christmas spirit into the town following the cancellation of the Christmas market.
The chamber has said it will be subsidising the price businesses pay for Christmas trees. Each year shops and businesses have trees mounted onto their buildings to light up the town.
This year the Chamber is putting forward £500 to cover some of the costs each shop pays for the trees. Members will get their trees at less than the cost price to help after a particularly difficult year.
Following the cancellation of the Christmas market by North Yorkshire County Council the chamber is in talks with other community groups about the options for its annual Christmas tree festival.
President of the chamber, Steve Teggin, said:
“The Chamber continues to work with the business community to provide help and assistance on the changing regulations. We are working to improve confidence to businesses, residents and visitors alike in the coming months to minimise the impact on trading conditions in the town.”
The chamber is still proudly promoting its #shoplocal #staysafe message as more new businesses open in the town and the Wednesday market continues to bring in new visitors.
The Christmas tree festival is one of the community events the chamber is hoping to support to encourage Christmas spirit within a year like none the town has experienced before. Credit: Charlotte Gale Photography
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- Harrogate BID is in charges of the town’s Christmas lights this year and promises they will be brighter and better.
- Ripon City Council is set to spend £65,000 on the city’s Christmas lights and decorations.
It is also looking ahead to next year to plans for a business improvement district (BID) project to launch.
Mr Teggin added:
BID prepares to brighten Harrogate with new Christmas lights“This will benefit Knaresborough for years to come. Although this will not be operational until 2021 there is already some great support for the project and some interesting ideas to support Knaresborough well into the future.”
Brighter, better and more extensive than ever: that’s the promise from the organisation now responsible for Harrogate’s Christmas lights.
Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) will be organising the displays for the first time this year and has appointed Gala Lights to make the town shine brighter than ever during the festive season.
Although the traditional Big Switch-On will not be possible, retailers and restaurants will be hoping the new and improved displays will draw people in to the town centre. The BID is hoping an online switch-on, taking place on Saturday, November 14, will help members of the community to get involved, as well as supporting local businesses.
Harrogate BID acting chair Sara Ferguson said:
“For a number of years, Harrogate’s annual Christmas lights have been funded by donations from local businesses and individuals, match-funded by Harrogate Borough Council.
“The appeal was launched on Stray FM and raised tens of thousands of pounds each and every year, with the switch-on taking place live on radio with stars from Harrogate Pantomime playing leading roles.
“Whilst none of that will be happening this year for obvious reasons, Harrogate’s Christmas lights will shine brighter than ever and be a reason for people to come into town during the festive season to shop, eat and drink.”
Custom made
The lights will be switched on in mid-November and will be strung between buildings, wrapped around lampposts and housed in trees, including those in front of the war memorial at the top of Parliament Street.
There will also be an illuminated, programmable and multi-coloured tunnel on the piazza in front of Victoria Shopping Centre, controllable via an app. Ms Ferguson added:
“Following a competitive pitch, we have chosen Gala Lights as our partner of the next four years. They are Christmas lighting specialists and work with towns, cities and BIDs throughout the UK. And for the first time in many years the lights are being custom-made for us.
“We are also looking at a lights switch on, but this won’t be a physical countdown in the town centre, but an online one involving local businesses and, hopefully, a big name or two.”
Gala Lights managing director Christopher Stille said:
“We are proud to be creating bespoke new Christmas lights for Harrogate town centre and we hope the new scheme will be well received by residents and visitors alike.”
Harrogate BID has recently expanded its team with the appointment of a ‘host’ to liaise with businesses and local authorities, and a project co-ordinator to support interim manager Simon Kent. It is funded through a levy on business rates applied to all businesses in the town centre over a set rateable value.