Businesses in Bradford on Avon are to go ahead with their planned late-night opening on Friday (November 29) despite the town’s Christmas Lights switch-on event being cancelled.
The town council announced this week that Friday’s switch-on had been cancelled because of the devastating flooding earlier this week.
The council said: “The Christmas Lights Switch-On planned for this Friday (November 29) has had to be cancelled because of the flooding in the town.
“The lights will be turned on over the next week or so after essential safety checks on all the electrical connections. Thank you for your understanding.”
Many of the town centre retailers who had planned to stay open until 9pm say they are prepared to stick with the festivities.
They include Georgie Farnham, co-owner of the Vitality Day Spa in Market Street, who has been encouraging other retailers to stay open as planned.
She said: “It has been a pretty rubbish time for Bradford on Avon and everyone adores the Christmas Lights switch-on. The whole community comes together.
“Even though they are not turning on the lights at a switch-on event we are staying open and are encouraging other businesses to do so.
“As far as I have found out so far, a lot of them are.
“It is such an important night for the town I just want to see it continue for the sake of the community and the local businesses.”
Georgie says that although life in Bradford on Avon has almost resumed to normality, their hearts still go out to all the residents and businesses that are still dealing with the aftermath of the past few days.
“Watching the community come together so strongly in such an awful time, has made a terrible situation that little bit brighter, so thank you to everyone who showed such kindness and support.
“There has been talks of the council cancelling the Christmas Lights night celebrations on November 29, however we here at Vitality, are going full steam ahead with our festive plans,” she said.
“We would be delighted if you could join in our festivities, absolutely everyone is welcome. Kick-off is from 5pm, and surplus Christmas spirit will be in abundance throughout the night.”
The Christmas Lights Switch-On event planned for Westbury Gardens normally draws hundreds of local people and visitors to the town centre.
This year, the town council had planned a night of Christmas fun and excitement, with live music, a fairground for children, Santa’s grotto, a gift fair and more.
But these have all been cancelled, including a festive line-up of artists performing in Westbury Garden, headlined by the one of UK’s premiere Motown acts, SoulTown Collective.
A festive gift fair, with more than 25 local artisans in St Margaret’s Hall, as well as the Jenkins Amusements fairground rides in St Margaret’s car park, alongside seasonal food and drink vendors, will no longer take place.
However, some parts of the festivities have survived, including the traditional Christmas tree in Westbury Garden sponsored by Bradford on Avon Lions Club.
There will also be decorated trees at the Tithe Barn sponsored by the Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust; outside the railway station sponsored by Great Western Railway; and the Giving Tree in Lamb Yard to raise funds for local charities.
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