Christmas lights pledge for York streets

10:06am Friday 26th October 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

Christmas illuminations in Coppergate Christmas illuminations in Coppergate

THE main shopping streets of York will not be left in the dark this Christmas despite fears that Stonegate will be without illuminations over the festive season.

City of York Council has confirmed work has already begun hanging decorations and putting up trees in the city centre, while other streets are also preparing for a November switch-on.

Deb O’Donnell, centre manager of the Coppergate Centre, said: “I can confirm that the Coppergate Centre Christmas lights will be installed next week and we will be holding a Christmas lights switch-on event on Thursday, November 22.

“The lights switch-on will launch the start of late-night shopping at Coppergate and will be a free, fun family event with live music and entertainment, competitions and give-aways. Over the next few weeks, we are also hoping to announce some celebrities who will be switching on the lights.”

The assurances come after The Press revealed that Stonegate would be without its usual illuminated garlands because a number of businesses on the street had failed to contribute to the annual upkeep of the lights, as agreed.

However, some businesses on Stonegate are angry at the loss.

Sophie Dawson, manager of fashion store Jigsaw, said that the majority of shops did pay. “You can’t have Christmas without the lights,” she said.

“I think it brings people in. If we can’t compete against the rest of York, it’s going to be bad. I would ask traders who haven’t contributed to do so and I would ask the council to contribute. We definitely want them this year.”

Yesterday, City of York Council said a number of streets, including Stonegate, had decided to opt out of the council illuminations in 2008 to organise their own lights.

Charlie Croft, the council’s assistant director for communities, culture and public realm, said: “We are open to discussions with local traders and businesses on how they might resolve this matter, so that York’s city centre is a spectacular experience for residents and visitors alike.”

Comments(16)

asd says...
10:21am Fri 26 Oct 12

Yesterday, City of York Council said a number of streets, including Stonegate, had decided to opt out of the council illuminations in 2008 to organise their own lights.

Charlie Croft, the council’s assistant director for communities, culture and public realm, said: “We are open to discussions with local traders and businesses on how they might resolve this matter, so that York’s city centre is a spectacular experience for residents and visitors alike.”

That made me laugh, spectacular! thats makes Towton village lights out of this world then lol.

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sortyorkout says...
10:56am Fri 26 Oct 12

As an employee of a business located in Coppergate Shopping Centre, I am always really impressed with the quality of the Christmas decorations that are installed there during the festive season. They are paid for by the tennants of Coppergate and really do attract footfall to the centre. I wish other streets would make the effort too instead of relying on the council. Yes I know it is an extra cost to businesses but the extra footfall generated no doubt makes this a worthwhile investment.

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roskoboskovic says...
10:58am Fri 26 Oct 12

if the council did their job and put on a decent display then the shopkeepers wouldn t need to opt in or out.lights should be strung across the streets and the shops can do their own window displays.do other towns have this petty,pathetic carry on every year.

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big boy york says...
11:19am Fri 26 Oct 12

roskoboskovic wrote:
if the council did their job and put on a decent display then the shopkeepers wouldn t need to opt in or out.lights should be strung across the streets and the shops can do their own window displays.do other towns have this petty,pathetic carry on every year.
agree with you there roskoboskvic what do we get poxy trees on top of shops, half pack in well before xmas. we dont even have a decent grotto or ought for the kids to go see santa {if only we had something like co-op at bottom of micklegate again}. you only have to drive out of york & even little villages put on a better display than us

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mjr119 says...
11:24am Fri 26 Oct 12

I think it is very poor to be reporting that businesses in Stonegate have "failed" to contribute. That suggests that there is some sort of obligation to pay. A business might "fail" to pay business rates, but you wouldn't say that a business "failed" to chip in with a raffle prize.

The idea of naming and shaming is pathetic, a business that is struggling is no different to a person who is struggling. I wouldn't be up for putting a sign outside a neighbour's house saying "I think he's struggling to make ends meet at the moment".

Instead of making a song and dance, look at the available funds and make something work. Don't spend time worrying about what others haven't done. If they can't afford it, fair enough. If they can afford it but won't chip in, then just be thankful that you're not them.

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cityforthepremier says...
12:45pm Fri 26 Oct 12

There are thousands of York residents who will never shop in some of these places again after the MC2 fiasco, a few Christmas lights won't change that.

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York1900 says...
1:53pm Fri 26 Oct 12

It is not for the council to put the whole cost of Christmas lights on to the council tax payer

There are more important things the council need to spend the money on

those streets who opted out did so because they were going to be able do it cheaper or have more control over what was put up but like most thing you all ways get those who do not want to pay there share of the cost but want there share of the profits that come from the Christmas lights put up in there street

These are probely the same people who try to minimize any payment they have to make

.

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Fat Harry says...
2:56pm Fri 26 Oct 12

It's up to each business to decide whether or not to contribute to the lights in its street.

Likewise it's up to the businesses who do contribute, to decide whether they want to keep forking out when their neighbours are not.

It is not up to the council to subsidise or pay for the lights. Most city centre businesses charge prices I can't afford, so perhaps when they subsidise me by offering me a discount, I'll be happy to subsidise them via my council tax.

Until then they can take the proverbial running jump.

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Silver says...
4:34pm Fri 26 Oct 12

In these days of austerity why can't we be a little different and instead of having a celebrity turn on the lights why not someone like little Jamie Inglis?

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Frodo Baggins says...
7:30pm Fri 26 Oct 12

roskoboskovic wrote:
if the council did their job and put on a decent display then the shopkeepers wouldn t need to opt in or out.lights should be strung across the streets and the shops can do their own window displays.do other towns have this petty,pathetic carry on every year.
Why should the council pay for the lights and increase the footfall that benefits shopkeepers without them making a contribution? As usual, they want the something for nothing.

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YSTClinguist says...
8:14pm Fri 26 Oct 12

sortyorkout wrote:
As an employee of a business located in Coppergate Shopping Centre, I am always really impressed with the quality of the Christmas decorations that are installed there during the festive season. They are paid for by the tennants of Coppergate and really do attract footfall to the centre. I wish other streets would make the effort too instead of relying on the council. Yes I know it is an extra cost to businesses but the extra footfall generated no doubt makes this a worthwhile investment.
Completely different situations though! I don't know why you're comparing them at all.

Readers should be made aware here that Coppergate is private property and the rest of the streets discussed here are public places financed by the taxpayer with freedoms to walk down them any time they feel like it. Your property owner can remove from anyone it doesn't like the look of, even if carrying out perfectly legal actions.

There are residencies all throughout the city outside of your little fiefdom. The taxpayers money oughtn't to be spent inside Coppergate on your decorations but in the public realm.

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smiler45 says...
9:08pm Fri 26 Oct 12

The thing is that the council have all ways relied on contractors to put and maintain the lights plus as far as i'm aware they also have paid to store the lights somewhere unless i'm wrong? all that adds up so surely a dedicated company that does the lot and knows how to plan,build, erect maintain and store would be a better option than the current arrangement plus also these lighting companies provide quotes and leasing options for small, medium and large displays so no matter what the budget they will come up with a suitable stunning display. In the past the council has wasted money on pathetic displays and lost the confidence of those that paid thousands towards the Christmas Lights and also traders, to gain that confidence and trust back the Council need to prove they can provide a decent Christmas Lights Display. Look at the year they brought in Laser lights that failed, they were switched off after the switch on, wasted money.

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kazzerkins says...
9:51am Sat 27 Oct 12

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is by singing loud for all to hear"

Buddy the elf. 2003.

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tgfoy says...
10:57am Sat 27 Oct 12

Has the partnership with Blackpool fallen through then?
http://www.yorkpress
.co.uk/features/read
ersletters/9375405.Y
ork_Christmas_lights
_facts/

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idlehousewife says...
1:10pm Sat 27 Oct 12

Advent Sunday is on 2nd December this year.

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smiler45 says...
2:15pm Sat 27 Oct 12

The last I heard the Blackpool partnership still remains. I am just surprised that YCC did not set something up here in York and create jobs and help our economy rather than passing the work over to Blackpool but if the YCC had brains they would be dangerous!

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