Christmas Lighting
This report to DMT is to identify and address issues with the Christmas Lighting installation,
equipment, infrastructure and the perception of the public and businesses in the five main
towns.
Equipment
The current Christmas lights (features) were purchased in 2005 over three years with a third
of their costs being paid for each year, the same features are stored and serviced and reused
each year.
The annual process generally includes













Storing all features for the year
Annual testing and service of all features
Repairing any minor defects (lamps)
Repairing damaged features
Upgrade equipment i.e. converting to LED and new technology that will enhance
reliability or visual effect.
Testing and inspecting supply points and eyebolt testing as required
Installing features ready for switch on date
Testing equipment prior to switch on event
Staffing the switch on events
Night scouts checking for faults
Repairing faults and taking any remedial action
Switching all units off on 6th Jan
Remove all features to storage.
The features were designed in 2005 particular to each town, other than a few additions, the
same features have been used in Medway every year since 2005. The equipment was
designed for each location considering, column height, length of the cables etc and to fit in
with the style of the surrounding features the equipment is generally used in the same town,
normally on the same column, every year.
All the features have now been converted to LED, which reduces the energy costs and the
LEDs tend to be brighter than conventional rope light. Although the condition can be
maintained the style cannot be changed without purchasing new features. Some features do
now look dated.
A last minute request for extra lighting is not always possible and requests for additional
features should be submitted before the end of August.
Town Centre managers (TCM) extra features
A small number of additional features have been purchased by the Town Centre managers
and these are now included in the main contract each year.
The TCM also arrange for Christmas trees and lighting in some static trees in Twydall,
Rainham, Parkwood, Chatham, Strood and Rochester. The majority of the funding for this is
from Cllr Ward Improvement Funds.
1
Installation
The lights take approximately four weeks to install and two weeks to remove. The majority of
this work is carried out at night using four operatives plus one supervisor.
Table 1
Column mounted
Cross street
Festoon
Christmas Trees
Mature Trees
Type and Number of Features
Chatham
Gillingham
Strood
42
13
23
7
11
2
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
3
Rainham
27
0
0
2
3
Rochester
0
1
920m
1
3
Table 1 shows details of the equipment used in each town. In addition to the items listed a
Christmas tree is organised in Hempstead, funded by a resident association and five column
mounted features in Hoo funded by Hoo Parish Council.
Chinese New Year
Five Chinese dragons are installed at the Luton Road end of Chatham High Street. These are
funded via the TCM with support from the local Chinese community. The features were old
and have now been scrapped. Funding options are being investigated by the TCM for
replacement dragons, alternatively spare “standard” features will be used to continue the
support for this end of the high street.
Energy and Switching Times
Energy (see table 2) is paid by highways each year and is based on the energy consumed by
each town, the switch on/off times and the start/finish date.
The energy cost has been stable at around £2,800 each year for a number of years. The
amount of energy consumed has gone down as the features have been converted to LED
however the actual cost of energy has risen.
Table 2
Town
Chatham
Gillingham
Strood
Rainham
Rochester
Medway Christmas Energy 2013
Switch on
Switch off
Times lit
15th Nov
6th Jan 2013
15:00 - 21:00
22nd Nov
6th Jan 2013
15:00 - 21:00
23rd Nov
6th Jan 2013
15:00 - 21:00
29th Nov
6th Jan 2013
15:00 - 22:00
16th Nov
6th Jan 2013
15:00 - 23:00
Load (watts)
5.5Kw
3Kw
4Kw
4Kw
3Kw
6th January is the 12th Day of Christmas
The actual switch on and off times has not been formally considered. The switch on times
used this year (see table 2) is a combination of historic habit and requests from local
councillors and businesses.
When considering these timings the first question was who is the benefactor of these lights?
The understanding is that they are mainly in the shopping areas for the shoppers, businesses
and to promote the towns, particularly tourism in Rochester. As it is not dusk until around
15:00 on a typical November / December afternoon, and most of the features can only be
seen after dark, 15:00 was considered to be the best switch on time.
Feedback suggests that the public are surprised that the Christmas lights are not lit
throughout the evening/night and that the Council is a “scrooge” if the lights are turned off
even if the public that are viewing the lights are just passing through the town. Table 3 shows
the recommended future switch on and off times.
2
Table 3
Town
Chatham
Gillingham
Strood
Rainham
Switch on
15:00
15:00
15:00
15:00
Rochester
15:00
Proposed switching Times
Switch off
Comments
21:00
Shopping areas are clear of shoppers by 18:30.
21:00
22:00
Main road running through the town.
22:00
Unique night time use - restaurants, nightclubs and
tourists.
23:00
Leaving the lights on longer does not impact on the maintenance too much, although the
lights do have a limited life. The biggest impact is to the energy costs, which is approximately
£4 per hour to run all the lights in Medway.
Switch-on Events
The five switch-on events present the most pressure on the installation of the lights and are
expensive to staff. Table 4 below show the number of staff needed for each switch-on event,
note that two are on Saturdays.
Table 4
Location
Chatham
Rochester
Gillingham
Strood
Rainham
Switch on Staff
Staff needed
8
4
8
12
6
Day
Friday
Saturday
Friday
Saturday
Friday
The whole installation process is organised around the switch-on dates, which means the
lights have to be installed early to ensure they are ready for the relevant date. Some flexibility
has to be built in to this time to ensure any problems can be addressed before the switch-on
day. This tends to lead to the features being installed earlier than they actually need to be.
Although the public presume the “magic button” is switching the lights on the lights are
actually switched individually at the base of each streetlight. The number of staff needed for
each switch-on depends on the visual distance from the switch-on point. Once the lights in
visual distance are switched the staff then fan out to all the lights outside the switch-on
viewing area. One problem is that the public will leave the switch-on event as soon as the
countdown is finished and they tend to over take the staff that are switching the lights on
leading to criticism and disillusion to the whole event.
It is questionable what benefit these switch-on events have on the Christmas build up, local
businesses tend to take the opportunity to hand out leaflets but there is no other interaction, in
fact even if businesses have lights on their building they will often not switch these on as part
of the event.
Maintenance
Following the switch-on events in each town there is a night check carried out by either the
contractor or Council staff to look for faulty lights. From experience the most common fault
with the lights is the timers. The Christmas light timers are installed in the base of the
streetlights where they are susceptible to damp, which causes them to fail.
The night check also looks for features that are not working as intended i.e. part of the LED is
not working or there is a faulty flashing unit. We are not able to fix these faults, but if the
feature is unsightly we can replace the unit as we have a few spare. We do not knowingly
leave any features out of light, if there is nothing we can do to get the feature working (i.e.
supply fault on the post) then the feature is removed.
3
Public perception
The Public perception of the Christmas lighting is generally poor. We do not get any thanks
for the lighting but we do get many complaints that range from it’s a waste of money to
Medway should provide more.
Officers from Highways have been to every switch-on event since 2006, this is the best time
to review reactions from the public. No public surveys have taken place so the following is
based on reactions and emails and phone calls. Adults are not impressed with the lights
although young children find the lights fascinating. Comments overheard are “same boring
stuff as last year”, “not as good as ‘x’ town” (Canterbury, Hastings and Maidstone have been
mentioned in the past) and “why are there none at this end of the high street”.
Business Perception
In order to gauge the perception of the businesses a feedback form was sent to all towns via
the TCM. The results of this feedback are shown in Appendix A.
In summary feedback from businesses suggest
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The council should continue to provide the Christmas lighting.
The local businesses do not wish to pay for any lighting.
Businesses would like to be more involved with the process.
Businesses do not take part in the switch on events.
Businesses have not provided feedback in the past.
We also carried out a small survey of each of the five high streets to evaluate what Christmas
decorations the businesses provided. The scale used was
0 - No indication that it was Christmas.
1 - Very little i.e. a sign or a string of fairy lights.
2 - Clear that some effort had been made i.e. small display of Christmas gifts.
3 - Good quality display celebrating the Christmas period.
The purpose of this survey was not to “catch the business out” but to gauge the businesses
interaction with the public.
It was clear from the survey that no shops scored 3 and only a few scored 2. Even big stores
such as TK Maxx only provide minimal decorations, which included stickers on the windows.
It is easy for the public and businesses to criticise the Councils Christmas lighting, but when
compared with the local businesses it is clear that there would be very little Christmas cheer
in the towns if the council did withdraw funding for the festive lighting.
TCM Input
The highway team meets with the TCM to ensure the switch on events goes as planned. As
the contractor needs to know what equipment will be needed in advance, the first meetings
tend to be late spring where we discuss:
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Is there anything different from last year?
Are the same trees going to be erected and are there funds to dress them.
Are there any changes to the location of the switch on events?
Agree times and dates.
Is there any new equipment needed.
Chinese New Year lights.
Although we do work together there is some confusion between Highways and the TCM over
who is responsible for the Christmas lighting and who agrees where the available funds are
spent.
Funding
The budget for Christmas lighting is £60k and has been for a number of years. The costs are
generally split between storage / repairs and installation, some of the funds are used
throughout the year upgrading and testing the infrastructure.
4
Wall Fixings and Pull Testing
During 2013 eyebolt testing was carried out by the contractor these test identified a number of
issues including;
1. Eyebolts that failed the load test, i.e. the bolts did not meet the required standard.
2. Eyebolts that passed the load test but failed for other reasons including;
a. The building is unsafe or a visual check of the building could not be carried
out due to paint or render.
b. The eyebolt was old and rusty.
c. The eyebolt was positioned too close to the edge of a building (top or side).
d. The eyebolt was too low.
Typical failed wall fixings
Fixings on the edge of buildings
Building in poor condition
5
Where the fixings failed due to structural problems a structural survey was carried out from
ground level. The structural survey could only be carried out externally and there are no
records of what the fixings are, how they have installed or their age. Following the survey and
pull tests the following locations could no longer be used.
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Gillingham - Two road crossings
Chatham - One Road crossing
Strood - One road crossing
Rochester - Three eye bolts could not be used resulting in 42m of festoon not being
used in the Eastgate area of the High Street
The same fixing points have been used for many years and it is clear that some buildings and
eyebolts are in poor condition and deteriorating. In some cases the eyebolts have caused
severe damage to the building. There does not appear to be any agreements with any of the
property owners to have these fixings attached to the buildings potentially leaving the council
open to claims for property damage and water ingress.
Replacing the fixings is a major undertaking in staff time and funding which is likely to take
over a year to process, problems identified include;
1. Identifying suitable locations, sites where there are building opposite each other or a
continuous zigzag (Rochester).
2. Refusal of a request to use a building.
3. Building being suitable height (lack of building heights in Rochester results in the
lights being lower than recommended).
4. Contacting the property owner (the second floor may not be owned by the shop on
the ground floor).
5. Gaining written approval and wayleaves.
6. Carrying out structural survey internal and external.
7. Appling for planning permission and sectary of state where needed (Rochester listed
buildings).
8. Carrying out the drilling and installing suitable fixing depending on wall type.
9. Potential damage caused to property during installation.
10. Unsightly wall plates or fixings may be needed on some building types.
In addition to the above many of the existing fixing points are too low for equipment above a
highway, guidance suggest a minimum height of 5.7m. None of the town centres have vehicle
height restrictions so any over height vehicle could use the areas without restriction. In
Rochester over half the fixings points are below the minimum height.
In Medway to date no over road features have catastrophically failed by being struck by high
vehicles, although some of the lamps in Rochester were being damaged by a vehicle
(possibly a bus picking up from a local business) it is impossible to know how many have
been hit or near misses.
The cross street features are constructed with an aluminium frame with a template for the led
rope lights. They are up to five meters long and weigh 25kg. Injury to the public and damage
to buildings is considered to be a high risk, were a fixing point to prematurely fail or if a
passing vehicle stuck the features.
6
Alternatives to Fixing on Buildings
Many of the towns have a combination of column mounted and cross street features. Where
equipment is attached to lighting columns the council has control over the condition of the
columns and structural integrity tests can be carried out to determine what weight of
equipment can be used.
In Chatham and Strood the streetlights are of a suitable height to mount features to the
columns and provide a good quality display.
In Gillingham the columns are 6m high working with the TCM column mounted features would
produce a good quality display. There are also a number of mature trees that could be used
for Christmas lighting.
The streetlights in Rochester are 4m tall and many of the light fittings are attached directly to
buildings. The options for Rochester are shown in table 6 below.
Table 6
Option
Proposals
Options for Rochester
Advantages
Disadvantages / Risks
1
Continue with
existing lighting.
No immediate
changes or costs.
2
Temporary
columns erected
for the Christmas
period.
3
Provide funds to
Rochester forum
to provide own
Christmas lighting
i.e. Christmas
trees on the
pavement outside
the shops or lights
attached to
individual
buildings.
Replace all
eyebolts
Columns can be
installed in suitable
locations and
height. No eyebolts
would be needed.
The forum would
decide where to
install the
equipment and
possibly invest in
additional
equipment over the
years. No eyebolts
would be needed.
4
The existing eyebolts will continue to deteriorate.
Eyebolts are to close to the edges of buildings.
Part of the high street already has limited features.
Existing crossings are too low.
No restriction on vehicle heights.
No wayleaves in place with property owners.
Damage caused to buildings.
Potential structural damage to buildings if the
crossings were hit.
Potential injury to public due to fixing failure.
High cost of adapting equipment where eyebolts
fail.
Approx 45 Sockets will need to be installed in the
footway and suitable columns erected each year.
This will be unsightly and expensive to implement.
Medway would have little control over what was
provided.
Replacement
eyebolts can be
fitted at the correct
height. Similar
display as exiting.
Major undertaking in staff time and funding,
estimated to take over a year to process.
Identifying suitable locations.
Building needs to be a suitable height
Refusal to a request to use a building.
Contacting the property owner.
Gaining written approval and wayleaves.
Carrying out structural survey internal and external.
Appling for planning permission and sectary of
state where needed.
Potential damage caused to property during
installation.
Unsightly wall plates or fixings may be needed on
some building types.
Need to adapt or alter the existing festoon.
7
Option
Proposals
5
Remove lighting
from the High
Street. Identify
alternative
locations i.e.
Corporation
Street.
Attach halo type
feature around the
street light
lanterns. See
examples below.
6
Options for Rochester
Advantages
Disadvantages / Risks
Removes all risks
associated with the
current system of
lighting. Gives
council more
control over what is
provided.
Will maintain a
display within the
High Street
Alternative features would need to be purchased
and locations adapted. Negative reaction from
users of the High Street.
Can only be used on approximately 30 columns
(many of the street lights are attached to buildings).
Some columns may need to be replaced or
adapted.
New features will need to be purchased.
Examples of halo style features (option 6 for Rochester).
Other Councils
Medway appears to be quite unique in the way Christmas lighting is funded and installed. The
budget has remained stable for a number of years and a good quality display has been
provided without any outside funding. Canterbury as an example did not install any lighting in
2013 suggesting it was a “green” decision. In other areas the lighting is the responsibility of
the local business, in some cases with a contribution from the local authority.
DMT to consider:
1. Switch-on events, continue support for the switch on events with associated staffing
costs and restrictions as detailed.
2. Switch on /off times, agree proposed switching times (table 3)
3. Funding, maintain the current level of funding to allow the existing standard of
equipment to continue.
4. Funding ownership, responsibility for the Christmas lighting budget handed to TCM
with responsibility for installation remaining with Highways.
5. Future design/consultation. The TCM local forums, continue to manage the
Christmas lighting through the local forums reacting to local requests and feedback
as necessary.
6. Wall fixings and Eyebolts
a. Strood, the use of wall fixings is ceased immediately. Existing column
mounted features in the High Street used in place of the two cross street
features, minimal impact on display.
b. Chatham, the use of wall fixings is ceased immediately. Existing column
mounted features in the High Street used in place of the seven cross street
features, this will have medium effect on the level of display, recommend
lighting a number of mature as funds become available.
c.
Gillingham, the use of wall fixings in Gillingham is phased out over the next
two years. Working with the TCM, alternative column mounted equipment
8
purchased over the next two years along with lighting a number of mature
trees, using existing budget allocation.
d. Rochester, consider and approve option from table 6.
Gillingham High Street showing position of mature trees
9
Appendix A
January / February 2014 Christmas Lighting Feedback
Chatham
David Frais, TV World
Chatham
Steve Bishop, Wilko
SB
Chatham
GH
Gillingham
Gill Hatten & Diane Bathe, School Time
Peter Day, For and on behalf of the Gillingham Town Centre Forum
Gillingham
Richard Collen, Chairman of Gillingham Town Centre Forum
RC
Rochester
Sanjay Raval, The City Wall wine Bar
SR
Rochester
Jane Staff, Fieldstaff Antiques
JS
Rochester
Marion Haslam, Hometown
MH
Strood
Paul Robinson, Strood Community Project
PR
Strood
Lee Crowhurst, haart Estate agents
LC
Strood
Cllr Jane Etheridge
JE
Strood
Cllr Josie Iles
JI
Watling
Street
Tim Bowden, Bowden and Lowe
Question 1
DF
PD
TB
Does your business provide its own Christmas displays? If so, is this inside or outside the
business premises? If not, please indicate why?
PD
Many businesses do display Christmas windows and consider that this is a necessary part of retail
marketing. Any external decorations would require Council approval. A process considered to be too
bureaucratic to be practical.
DF
We do provide our own window lighting to coincide with the switch on, and display a Christmas feel in
store.
RC
Yes. We always dress our windows for Christmas from the start of November. But many years ago
we paid for Christmas trees to be place on our building at 1st floor level saying sponsored by in our
case Photo Memories (these were hung at the same time as the lights) and this was well supported
by the traders. This was in the days of Coletrant as the contractors.
TB
Many shops have display inside and the last four years outside displays via the Watling Street
Business Association. These displays have been funded by some ward funds, by individual
businesses and by the WSBA. Erection and removal has been done by volunteers. Some lights were
hosted and erected by Kent Fire and Rescue. This Christmas they could not do this due to
uncertainty about the demolition of the Fire station.
Summary
Question 2
Three others do display outside and Seven display inside
The council gets very little feedback from local businesses on the Christmas lights displays,
why is this and how much involvement would you like?
TB
We never get asked that’s why no feedback. Watling Street is not treated like other shopping areas of
Medway as the council do not provide lighting
GH
Years ago the council took an interest in retailers shop windows by having a competition of bestdressed windows. The winners were being invited to a small presentation with buffet. I know that cuts
have to be made but feel that the council is not interested in the high street at all therefore retailers
have lost interest. We would like to be more involved in the planning of the main Christmas lights and
decorations
Summary
Seven responded that they have not been asked for Feedback. Did not know who to contact or did
not need to make contact.
10
Question 3
Businesses are not currently asked to contribute financially towards the Christmas lighting,
as is the case in some other towns in the UK. Would you be willing to contribute towards the
Christmas lighting for example if it led to better or more features or if they were switched on
longer?
PD
Unless a real positive outcome was achievable then most businesses would not be willing to fund the
lights.
PR
There’s no need to keep them on for longer. There could be better displays, which would attract more
visitors to the town businesses. I’m thinking more of a Christmassy feature on Angel Corner between
Aldi and Barclays.
LC
Not at this stage
DF
In theory not a bad idea, But rates are at an all time high, income down, foot flow down,
landlords rent down!!
SB
I would have to ask Wilko
SR
Depends on how much
JS
Money is tight and local businesses here are mainly run on a shoestring. I could contribute a small
amount at a push, but think it might be an idea to seek funding from local organisations
though…possible the city of Rochester society or the Rochester Bridge Trust for instance. I don’t
think we need additional features, but I would like to see the lights on longer.
MH
Yes – but only a token amount eg £20-25 as I already pay £920 in business rates each month and
my own utility bills….
RC
As in Q2 I would be happy to look at this possibility if its directly involving our premises to show our
involvement) but not just in the ‘big pot’ of which others have not contributed and we would have no
control as to how and where it was spent.
TB
Some of the members of WSBA are paying to have their own lights erected outside their businesses.
Lights provided by the council would be much better in quality and scope. If contributions are to be
asked for from businesses it would have to be all or nothing as there would always be businesses
that would be happy to have the beneficial effects of the lights but not pay for them themselves!
GH
No I think this should be down to the council as a forum member I was on the Christmas events
planning for the first time this involved council pentagon and forum all expenses was speared.
Question 4
Do you think providing Christmas lighting is good value or a waste of money? Should more or
less money be spent on Christmas lighting?
PD
Christmas lighting is an essential part of a high street. The current provision is considered to be only
basic and uninspired.
PR
Depends what was done with the extra money
LC
I am happy with it as it is
DF
A High Street needs lighting for a Christmas spirit.... costing I have no idea
SB
It adds to the feel of Christmas
SR
Yes, good value – spend more for better
JS
I think the lights really add something to Rochester but don’t know how much they cost so couldn’t
comment on whether they are good value for money…I wouldn’t want to loose them though!
MH
Good use of money as it provides a lot of atmosphere in the High Street at a time of year when the
weather and lighting are often murky and dull. I think the spend should remain the same (although
I’ve no idea what the current budget is).
RC
Good value for the town, the local residents and visitors, as it gives the towns surrounding area a
focal point of celebrating Christmas outside of the church and gives everybody a feeling of well-being.
TB
More. It would be difficult for the council to spend any less on Christmas lighting along Watling Street
GH
Good value and a necessity. A budget should be set and spent wisely
11
Question 5
Is your business involved in the switch on event? Do you feel you should have more input?
Does your business switch on decorative lights during the switch on event?
SB
Is your business involved in the switch on event? NO. Do you feel you should have more input? YES.
Does your business switch on decorative lights during the switch on event? NO.
SR
YES
JS
We are involved in the switch on event, but think having the lights generally is more important than
the switch on event itself. I would like to have lights or flags up all year round
MH
no involvement in the switch–on event as 1) it happens at the other end of the High St and 2) C-list
celebrities from TOWIE etc don’t fit with our customer profile! We always make sure that our
Christmas windows and lights are put up in time for the switch-on.
RC
Yes, I will always take photos at the switch on if I am free to do so. Are decorative light are on well
before the switch on.
TB
The WSBA run their own very low key switch on event along Watling Street with no help at all from
the council
Summary
Five of the respondents said they did not take part in the switch on event
Question 6
If funds were provided, would you be willing and able to join other like-minded businesses in
the town centre to carry out your own Christmas lighting? Would you welcome the
opportunity to make your own arrangements or should the council continue to provide the
lighting?
PD
The Council’s requirements on us, if we were to carry out the provision of external lighting, would
include various conditions including insurance for the three or four weeks duration of the lights. This
cost would make any proposal uneconomic and therefore not viable. The Council should continue to
provide the Christmas lighting; as it does with other services such as street cleaning.
PR
If funds were provided, would you be willing and able to join other like-minded businesses in the town
centre to carry out your own Christmas lighting? Yes. But I can foresee major H&S issues. Would you
welcome the opportunity to make your own arrangements or should the council continue to provide
the lighting? Happy for the council to continue, but maybe with support from businesses. Let’s have a
discussion about this at the Strood Town Centre Forum.
LC
Not at this stage
DF
Christmas lighting need to be coordinated
SB
Continued Council involvement
SR
Yes I would
JS
I would like to see the council continue to do it for the sake of consistency. I am involved in planting
and looking after the lamppost baskets and know how difficult it is for well meaning amateurs to do
these things. They are best done by a corporation who knows how to do them and he appropriate
resources.
MH
I think the lighting should be consistent throughout the High St, so I’d prefer that it was centrally
organised, plus I’m no electrician!
RC
The council need to provide this service or it will become sporadic with areas unlit and rather pathetic
(almost as it is becoming now where funding has been cut). If lighting has failed it needs to be
replaced not got rid of as is becoming the case.
TB
We would very much welcome provision of lights by the council
GH
The council should continue as it is safer they have the professional people. I would hate to see
retailers doing their own thing as it would be dangerous.
12
Question 7
PD
PR
Do you have any other comments you feel may be relevant?
Some of the previous members of the forum have stated that where specific displays were arranged
for Gillingham High Street, these were then ‘lost’ and put up in other town centres which colours our
view in these matters.
PR Do you have any other comments you feel may be relevant? Strood TC would be a much nicer
place in which to do your Christmas shopping if the traffic was kept out. We need a major re-think of
transport routes.
JS
I love the Christmas lights in Rochester. I think that their simplicity is completely suitable for our old
High Street…thank you for keeping them going!
MH
I did speak up at the Forum to say that I think the current style of lights – ‘retro fairy string’ really suits
Rochester High St. One addition that I think would be lovely are fairy ‘pea’ lights on any trees along
the High St, eg at the Crown, the entrance from the High St to the castle (where the farmers
market/disabled parking is) and by the small trees in the Blue Boar car park. Plus simple white lights
on the road bridge direction Strood-Rochester. Think of the lovely Albert Bridge in London, although
I’m not suggesting anything quite so elaborate…
JE
The lights were not synchronised to come on and go off together. The Christmas tree lights could
have been switched on earlier, even though it was still light the day that the likes of All Faiths School
walks to the town to sing carols around the tree. The lights appeared to be not working more often
than was acceptable.
JC
Budgets need to be set and then consultation with town centre take place as to what can be done
and what could be done with support at an early stage in the year.
JI
As you know I can say first hand how much effort the council put into the switching on of the
Christmas lights and decoration across the towns and is most popularly received by Strood's
residents. Also Strood has two rather than one tree, which is very nice although in my opinion both
should have more lighting. Alternatively Strood should just have one larger tree sited at Angel Corner
but I can appreciate the 'welcoming' effect of the second tree sited opposite B&Q as you enter Strood
from Rochester. However the tree sited here does pale into insignificance to Rochester's tree.
Turning to the Christmas street lights: I was frequently out and about during the lead up to Christmas
and found at various times during the evening that not all the lights were on at the same time around
the town area. For example: the lights on the Strood North side would be on whereas on the Strood
South side - Corporation Street, the lights were off and this was also the case with the Christmas
trees.
Just my observations and thoughts. I do remember you raising this issue last year and an
alternative use of the £1000.00 from my Ward Funds initially given towards the Strood High Street
Flowering Scheme. If this scheme is not going ahead or is still delayed by the de-cluttering scheme
then I am quite happy for the funds to be transferred and used towards providing more Christmas
lighting and better tree(s) and lighting thereof. Or perhaps more efficient electricity connections and
power to the Strood South side!!
TB
Although Watling Street is a retail thoroughfare maintained by the council and not a private retail area
it seems very strange that it is not included in the Christmas Light provision. There are 70+ viable
retail and professional businesses along this stretch, which seem to have been forgotten by the
council.
GH
We no longer have a Christmas tree in Chatham only the one paid for by the forum for the church. I
would like to see this moved to a more central welcoming area i.e. the grass by the bus station and
pentagon.
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