Alf Jones, who resigned from his office with the Chamber three and a half years but remains an ordinary member, hopes to call in a вЂfew favours’ to get the lights erected. “At the very least I expect to be able to get some of the lights and the small features up around the Market Place and, if I can get enough help, I will put them up along the main street as well,” he said.
In the longer term, Mr Jones and me mbers of the Christmas Market committee, of which he is chairman, plan to take over the Christmas lights for next year, to be financed by grants which he will be applying for. Mr Jones said he did not understand how the money to put up and power the lights was not available this year.
“As long as I can remember, the town council has donated ВЈ650 towards the lights and the balance has been raised from Chamber events like the sponsored walk and the Miss Chamber of Trade dance.” He said he would be asking the town’s two district councillors to make donations from their Local Initiative Fund money, which totals ВЈ2,000 between them, towards the lights. However, none of that money would be available until next year.