Market Drayton Christmas lights. I have had loads of posts all moaning about the pitiful display of Christmas lights in Drayton this year. I decided to take a run around town earlier to see if things are as bad as reported. Well to start with the lights were switched on at 5 pm on Saturday by 630 the Christmas tree was out along with most lights in high street except the wall mounted Christmas trees and the motorbike led display on the wall in from of Phils mobility shop. Tonight Monday 10 pm the lights are still out. This tends to suggest that the lights are managed by electrical contractors out of town? If it were any local electrical contractor they would be worried about the bad press it would cause their business. So to the trip round. High st tree and street lights still out same as 630 pm Saturday Queen street the street lights are all out at 10 pm tonight they were on on Saturday night at least a bit longer than the tree! Cheshire street. The lights are on including the pretty drab wall lights. One light unit on the courts.... looks very lonely. Stafford street I dont think there is any except one or two at teh top by the crown which are out! You must admit an amazing effort at making our town look festive. I am not blaming the council as such or those that have to try and organise things I just think its all wrong and needs a total re think. I remember when the high street was lit from almost the red lion through High Street to the Crown all the way down Stafford street to almost Asdas. The Shropshire street had lights from high street past the vaults right up to Kids corner on the junction with Frogmore road. Queen street lay lights in the trees by the seating area this year nothing however the car park is brilliantly lit wasting kilowatts of lighting. We had the same in Cheshire street but someone cut the trees down. No lighting around Weatherspoons or the top end of queen street. So what can be done. I am informed the current lights cost about £6000 \ year! I was staggered at that as no new lights have been provided for years. I was wondering if the events group we started a couple of years ago could be tasked with trying to get local approved electrical contractors to provide the man power to install the lights safely could we get contributions from the Chamber of trade and council etc . If they gave us £6000 I am sure we could do a better job if we embraced local business instead of trying to outsource the job selecting other contractors with no local connection with the current success. Could we improve the lighting system this year? I know the official angle will be leave it until next year just like they left it until Thursday when the lights were to be switch on on the Saturday. I intend to take a trip to Newport and Audlem tomorrow evening and will take a few photos to compare. Could we do better? Who would be willing to help fund raise? Would business pubs etc. help out? Drayton looks like a sad forgotten town with as much Christmas cheer as Scrooge himself and we hope to attract shoppers in town?
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 22:58:10 +0000
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