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07
Sept 2022
Last Updated: 06/09/2022
Ripon plans some light relief this Christmas
Although the cost of electricity continues to rise, Ripon's Christmas lights will be going on this year.
Ripon councillors are determined to ensure festive cheer for retailers, residents and visitors to the city centre this Christmas.
While some towns and cities in the UK are putting plans for seasonal lighting on hold because of concerns over rising energy costs, Ripon will be going ahead with its civic display and switch on event.
However, concerns have been expressed. At Monday night's full meeting of the council, Liberal Democrat councillor Barbara Brodigan asked:
"With the increasing cost of electricity, could we be seen as being profligate or frivolous at a time when people are having to cut back on their use of power?"
Last year's Christmas lights switch on in Ripon.
Independent council leader Andrew Williams, said:
"These are indeed difficult times and there there will be more ahead, but we want to ensure that the civic lights are in place to bring some degree of Christmas spirit to the city to benefit our independent retailers and give a lift to residents and visitors."
This year, the festive programme in Ripon is being supported by Ripon Business Improvement District, which is paying for the production and distribution of a Christmas brochure, setting out the events that will be happening in the city.
Cllr Williams said:
"The council has been paying for the brochure for a number of years and we welcome this support from the BID."
The Christmas lights are paid for from the parish precept and in 2020, the display was extended following a £65,000 injection of funding from the city council's events budget, made possible because of the money that became available after a number of planned public events had to be cancelled because of the covid pandemic.
In 2021 there was further investment in the display, designed to boost the Ripon economy by attracting more visitors.
Last year's switch-on event on November 19 saw a large crowd gather on Market Square.
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