Christmas lights switch-on - but disappointment for some

Devonshire Road will be closed to traffic from Parkhurst Road to Marina. Southern FM breakfast duo Danny and Nicki plus the Hit Squad will do the count-down and perform the switch-on, planned to create a "ripple effect" as street after street bursts into decorative life.

They will also provide the entertainment until 7.30pm for what it is hoped will prove to be a valuable addition to Bexhill's Christmas late-night shopping.

The eight winners of the primary schools competition to design lights for Devonshire, Western, Sackville and St Leonards Roads will be invited to the switch-on stage outside The Harp in Devonshire Road to receive their awards.

Bexhill Regeneration Partnership's town centre and tourism action group launched its 30,000 fund-raising campaign in August. The aim was to provide match-funding after Rother council had agreed to put regeneration budget cash into the project.

Now it hopes the public will turn out this evening to see the results of its labours, enjoy the lights and the street entertainment - and do their Christmas shopping by supporting local shops.

It will be a special night for competition winners whose designs will be lit up in all their glory for the first time.

Amie Marlow, George Hucker, Emily Roberts, Brogan Carpenter, Greg Holden, Scott Painter, Lisa Weismayer and Sophie Carr will be presented with a framed copy of their design and gift vouchers by Danny and Nicky from Southern FM.

Local girl group Untouched will be among the performers for the evening.

Organiser Brian Storkey said: "We are all set up. Devonshire Road from Parkhurst Road to the Marina will be closed from 4pm until 9pm."

This will give pedestrians the run of one of the busiest shopping roads while some shops choose to stay open late, in addition to late night shopping on December 14.

"We are hoping to have a really good crowd down here," said Brian. "We are looking forward to something quite spectacular.

"We would like to thank everyone for all their support throughout the campaign."

Plans are being made for television coverage of the evening.

FESTIVE cheer turned to disappointment this week when Western Road and Wickham Avenue traders were told they cannot have their Christmas lights after all.

Neither of the lighting columns in Wickham Avenue and only two of the eight planned in Western Road will be in place at tonight's big switch-on.

Engineers discovered that brickwork on the side of most of the buildings is too weak to safely bear the weight of the lights and could find no solution to the problem despite frantic last-minute efforts this week. It's a huge disappointment for organisers and traders who overcame a massive financial hurdle to pay for the lights as part of the Making Bexhill Brighter campaign.

As a compromise festoon lights have been strung up and down both streets.

Businesses in Wickham Avenue alone paid 100 each under the scheme, organised by the Bexhill Regeneration Partnership after last year's much publicised show. They have been told they can have their money back if they want it.

Town Centre and Tourism Action Group chairman Steve Ayres was breaking the bad news to Western Road traders yesterday morning.

He said in a letter: "We are taking professional advice from independent consultants as to how best to solve the structural difficulties. This may take some time to complete and I will advise you of the progress as soon as possible."

Mr Ayres told the Observer: "I'm gutted and I feel sorry for the traders. They have every right to feel disappointed but we've been working on this project since January, how do they think we feel?

"There are brickwork problems throughout the town - there always are when buildings are as old as they are here.

"If the brickwork isn't up to scratch, it becomes a safety issue."

He added: "I'm determined that tonight will be a success nonetheless. Bexhill will be in the spotlight."