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22
Oct 2020
Date set for Ripon lights switch-on
Ripon's largest-ever display of Christmas lights and decorations will be turned on on the evening of Saturday November 14.
Ripon City Council agreed to the switch-on arrangements this week after an update from council leader Andrew Williams.
Cllr Williams said North Yorkshire County Council had carried out the necessary adjustments to street lighting around the city to accommodate three miles of decorations.
This will take in Ripon's main retail core and extend as far north as the Victoria clock tower on North Street - a principal route into Ripon.
Cllr Williams, told the Stray Ferret:
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The council has approved £65,000 of additional spending on the Christmas decorations.
The major extension, which now takes in side streets including Allhallowgate, Bedern Bank and Skellbank, ensures lights are in place on all gateways into the city centre, while also providing a circuit around a mixture of retail and residential streets.
Funding for the scheme is coming from the council’s events budget, which had originally been intended to support a programme of community events throughout the year in Ripon.
These included the 75th anniversary celebrations for VE and VJ Day, and the St Wilfrid’s Day procession, that had to be either cancelled or scaled back because of the coronavirus crisis and social distancing restrictions.
Councillors, who unanimously supported the switch on plans, hope that the extended lights will provide an end of year boost for retailers, by attracting greater footfall.
The Mayor of Ripon, councillor Eamon Parkin, said:
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