PLANS for an alternative Christmas lights switch on in Bangor haven’t gone down well with a local councillor.
Wary of the impact of bad weather on the traditional switch-on ceremonies, plans have been drawn up for a repackaged two-day event programme for the city and Newtownards.
However, councillors weren’t consulted about the plans which hasn’t impressed UUP councillor Richard Smart who says the ‘big switch ons’ are hugely popular.
He has now secured support for the drawing up of a new report by Ards and North Down Council officials which will look at keeping the traditional switch on ceremonies.
The council’s plans for ‘Christmas events not switch ons’ are intended to create a ‘feeling of magic’ over two days in each town, and will incorporate a countdown and switch on as part of the wider events.
The plans came before elected members last Wednesday for approval, however, Mr Smart proposed that officers provide a report to the next Place and Prosperity Committee on the ‘viability of providing the traditional Christmas lights switch on events in both Newtownards and Bangor’
The UUP politician asked for a new report to include indicative costings and ‘a plan for how councillors will be consulted in future preparations’.
Praising the hard work of the events team in drawing up the festive plans, Mr Smart pointed out: “The big switch on events, which many people would see as the local highlight kicking off the festive season, are notably absent.”
Stating the traditional switch ons ‘have been a very popular event with people coming from near and far’, Mr Smart said the Newtownards event last year attracted more than 9,000 people.
“While we have much to shout about in this programme, I do deeply regret that a decision to change it has been made without consultation with elected members,” he said.
He said his proposal ‘aims to put all the information back in the hands of the [Place and Prosperity] committee to see what’s possible for this year’s festive celebrations and agree a way forward that will ensure elected members are consulted’.
Acting chief executive Michael Steele said with the committee taking place early in November, members would be ‘up against the clock in terms of producing something logical and sensible’ for the committee agenda.
Sharon Mehaffey, the council’s head of tourism, said the events team had worked very closely with the local chambers of commerce to create full Christmas programmes.
Stressing the ‘event footprint for Newtownards is really quite different from previous years’, she said it would entail 20 chalets within Conway Square ‘which leaves a very limited footprint for what may be deemed more of a switch on event’.
“The lights will be turned on, the Mayor will be there, with a very special guest – Santa – and we’ll have activities running throughout Friday and Saturday,” she said.
She added that Saturday’s events would involve ‘very magical’ activities involving Paddington Bear, who features in a statue in Conway Square.
Councillors backed Mr Smart’s proposal for a new report.
