Traders to pay for town's festive lights

After years of criticism about the town's Christmas illuminations the town's chamber of commerce has come up with a new idea.

Under a plans due to go before Lewes Town Council last night (Thursday) traders are to be asked to contribute to the festive feel by paying for lights to adorn their own businesses.

Kate Hook, secretary of the chamber said: 'We have been working to try to improve the lights in Lewes for years.

'We had no Christmas lights at all until about ten years ago when the chamber initiated fundraising activities to buy lights.

'We ended up having to spend lots of money have to adapt the lamp posts to be able to take the lights which left us with very limited funds and had to buy refurbished lights.'

The nature of the architecture in Lewes made the hanging of lights difficult.

She added: 'We have very few highrise buildings and there are strict rules about how low lights can be hung across the road.

'Also almost every building along the High Street is listed which is hugely restrictive to what you can attach to them and permanent fixings.

'This together with the limited amount of lamp posts in the town meant we ended up with a few lights splashed sporadically around the town.'

Because of these restrictions and after consultation with businesses and councils the chamber has decided on a simple theme for shopkeepers to use and has contacted a manufacturer for prices.

The theme would be white lights with stalactite strings for building ledges and lit twigs for window boxes.

The strings of stalactites cost 79 each and the twigs of light 99.

Shops and businesses would be asked to buy as many or as few decorations as they felt appropriate for their business.

As well as traders, organisations in the town are being asked to take part and at the meeting last night the town council were recommended to approved the 1,997 costed to dress the town hall.

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