Brighter lights for Highbridge this Christmas (From Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News)

Brighter lights for Highbridge this Christmas

1:50pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in News By Matthew Colledge

THE organisers of Highbridge’s Christmas lights hope to “raise levels of happiness” after securing extra cash for this year’s festive display.

At a meeting on last week, Burnham and Highbridge Town Council’s finance and policy committee agreed a grant of £2,000 this year and a similar award next year.

The move, which must be rubberstamped by the full council, will add to the cash reserves of the Highbridge Chamber of Trade, which organises the lights display.

Mike Murphy, chamber chairman, said: “I’m very grateful to the council and this is a good start as we look at replacing our Christmas lights.

“They have not given us enough to totally replace the lights in one go but over the last few years, we have put some money aside into a reserve fund for the lights, partially from grants and partially from donations from local traders.

“We will be going out to bigger traders to look for more contributions but we are satisfied we are getting a grant this year and an additional grant next year.”

The money will be used to completely replace the festive lights in Church Street.

Mr Murphy said: “It would be nice to have a bit more of a display.

“The lights we have in Highbridge are five years old.

“They are starting to creak at the seams and we hope to have brighter lights, new LED lights, different colours and different designs.

“These days, with the recession and unemployment, it’s very difficult to raise levels of happiness but at this time of year, everybody wants to feel the festive spirit, even though they may not have as much money in their pockets as before.”

A date for this year’s switch-on has not yet been confirmed, as organisers want to avoid a clash with Burnham’s display, but it is likely to be at the end of November.