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 Each year Southwold hosts a spectacular Christmas switch on and late shopping night. Like most towns across the UK it is becoming more difficult to raise the funds for this wonderful event. We never know until the night just how Santa will make his journey to Southwold to switch on the lights from the town hall balcony, in past years he has arrive by boat, JCB, Coach and Carriage, artic lorry and of course on his sleigh, to name but a few. Why does i t cost so much? One of the most asked questions. A lot of the blame goes to Health & Safety in the way that the Electricians have to work these days – vehicles with hoists, 2 men to a ladder, pull tests approx £1000 (on lighting overhanging streets), Suffolk County Highways - £60 for every 10 decorations ( the last 2 are new this year). These could add approx. £1500 to the £23,000 normally budgeted for. Previously the County licence was £55! It makes one wonder whether the powers that be actually want us to enjoy ourselves. Father Christmas doesn’t need any particular certificates for when he’s in the grotto because he’s not there for many hours. Common sense at last prevailed. People also forget that they have to be taken down as well as put up! Last Christmas we began replacing old lights with new green, eco-friendly, weatherproof, unbreakable and long-lasting strings. This kicked off with a magnificent donation of nearly £4000 from Latitude, who stage the spectacular 4 day Festival in June in Henham Park, near Southwold, an important piece of equipment from Spring Design in Southwold and the businesses and shopkeepers who bought their own new strings. The electricians say this is just the start and that others definitely need renewing this year as they are past their sell by dates. However in the long term this will save money. A lot of our visitors to the town will see the switch on on the night and the lights for the following four weeks. However, Christmas lights in Southwold carries on all year round, through the tireless work of the committee and the people who support the it. I would like to thank all the residents, visitors and business's in Southwold who support the lights and in particular to our business's who also pay a fixed price to help light up the Town. 
Chairman of Southwold Christmas Lights Committee. |