By Julie Waters
BANGOR city’s popular Christmas lights ‘switch on’, that regularly attracted large crowds, will be on a much smaller scale this year.
Concerns over bad weather has prompted Ards and North Down Council to opt for a different, two-day programme which will see activities take place across the city centre.
Amongst the festivities, the City Hall forecourt will be filled with hot food traders and music, with a fun fair at Abbey Street West car park and choirs performing in the bus and train station.
Mayor Gillian McCollum and representatives from her charities – Orchardville, St Vincent de Paul, and North Down and Ards Women’s Aid – will help to turn on the tree lights and lighting installations, on Saturday, November 22, at 6pm.
A similar situation exists in Newtownards where the large switch on has been completely cancelled in favour of a small scale switch on carried out by the Mayor and Santa.
However, the new programme has been the source of friction between councillors and officials after local politicians were kept in the dark about plans for the new look event.
Council events staff met with Chamber of Commerce officials to draw up the programme but did not inform councillors until earlier last month. When some councillors asked for the large-scale Christmas lights switch on to be retained within the new programme, they were told that a ‘lower key switch on element’ could be included in the schedule.
The programme came before members of the council’s Place and Prosperity Committee last week, where members voiced their concern at the way the changes had been carried out but gave their backing to the event plan.
UUP councillor Richard Smart said it was ‘unfortunate’ that the event officials’ plan had not been discussed with politicians, the City and Town Advisory Groups or local residents.
Mr Smart acknowledged that the new programme does contain ‘some fantastic market activities’ with family focused events. But he said while some may view the event as the ‘best we have ever had’ others may feel it is ‘the worst’.
“It would have been nice if we were in a position to discuss what’s possible, but I think we all know that time is short in terms of these events and there is limited basis for discussion in terms of changing what is there.”
Mr Smart said that the Christmas festivities were ‘slightly unique’ in that while other events were focussed on tourism and footfall, the aim of the Yuletide events were to not only build economic development but ‘to have the mind of the community and what they are looking for considered’.
Mr Smart said it was ‘unfortunate’ that the Christmas events had not been considered by the Town and City Advisory Groups, nor were there discussions in the council or consultation with the public.
The councillor accepted that officers had engaged with the Chamber, but felt what was finally agreed may have been different had elected members and the public been consulted. Mr Smart welcomed that a plan had now been put in place, which he said will shape discussion on future Christmas events.
Alliance politician Patricia Morgan also welcomed the updated report, saying it was an ‘exciting’ programme that had been scheduled. She said making events weather proof was a ‘genuine issue’ and ‘I hate to think what the costs are when you have to cancel and the disappointment.”
“These are a great list of activities and the review is the bit that is really important, and hopefully this will be even better.”
