This years St. Peter Port annual town centre Christmas lights display is under threat as donations to the charity organising the lights have fallen short of the annual target.
The display has been the responsibility of the St. Peter Port Christmas Lights charity for the past five years. Each year the charity performs safety checks on over 30 festive arrays, hundreds of light strings and display rigs, before overseeing a six week out-of-hours installation programme. The annual programme costs £36,000 (plus extra for replacements when funding allows) and includes provision for safety maintenance through the Christmas period.
“What households go through every year getting their Christmas tree lights working, we have to do on a giant scale for the whole town!” said Jax Robin, Chair of the St. Peter Port Christmas Lights charity.
But now, the lights may not go ahead as planned because annual donations have fallen short. “We need at least £5,000 to ensure this year’s display goes ahead as planned,” Without the money for safety checks, the charity has said it will face difficult decisions to scale back the number of streets it can safety illuminate this year.
“The lights provide an important feel-good factor for the island’s Christmas economy. Now more than ever, we need a full lights display to help people feel that normality is returning after what has been another difficult year for so many islanders.”
Peter Tom CBE and owner of Boatworks+ said: “We’re supporters of the Christmas illuminations, which are an essential part of St. Peter Port’s festivities – lifting our spirits and helping us celebrate after another difficult year.”
Contractors are due to start on 13 October, meaning time is of the essence.
Details of how to support the charity can be found on its website, by telephone on 07781 139007 or email.
