Hope For Some Xmas Lights In Church Street

Harborough’s Council Leader is to meet with traders from Church Street tonight in a bid to get some kind of Christmas Lights up this year.

Neil Bannister has been speaking to HFM after over 1,000 people signed a petition demanding displays go up, after it was revealed earlier this week there would be no lights on the street, which have been the pinnacle of the town’s displays for decades, because of health and safety issues.

It’s very unlikely the normal cross street lights will happen this year though, although they could return in 2019 if a plan can be put in place.

Cllr Bannister says he understands the outpouring of disappointment from traders in the street and wider community and say the Market Harborough Chamber of Trade were informed in May of the decision.  A new Committee has since taken over there.

Church Street Christmas Lights in 1962

Changes to health and safety regulations – brought in after someone was killed in London when lights fell on them – means brackets and electrical connections no longer meet standards and it will cost £28,000 to replace them.