New tree lights illuminate Harrogate’s Stray

The winter lights decorating trees around Harrogate’s Stray have had something of a makeover.

New LED bulbs have replaced the older ones and the strings of lights are no longer hanging from branches as they have done in the past.

Contracts manager for Harrogate-based Yorkshire Lighting Services, Rob Malloy, explained:

“The council couldn’t carry on with the trees lights how they were as any storm damage would wreck them. The lights were strung up from branch to branch.

“It’s been designed to reduce breakage. We’ve wrapped them around the trunks and branches. Each tree is different – each is unique.

“The idea is to cheer people up.”

The company won the tender to replace the lights and has had four workers on the project for the past couple of months.

Forty trees around the Stray, West Park and York Place have all seen the old lights removed and the new ones put in place.

The council also funded the replacement of lights on the trees on Otley Road and Leeds Road that had been individually sponsored in memory of loved ones in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Research around a decade ago.

Mr Malloy told the Stray Ferret that he hoped the result would be a fitting memory for those people the trees lights have been dedicated to.

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Councillor Sam Gibbs, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“The Stray is such an iconic landmark for Harrogate and throughout the year attracts thousands of visitors.

“We’re often complimented on the existing lighting, but it can be difficult to manage due to lights getting blown around, hanging down and becoming dangerous.

“The replacement project will be a big change compared to the current display and should continue to bring a smile to people’s faces as they travel through the town in the evening.”

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Sun Colonnade lit up in first part of Valley Gardens improvements

Harrogate Borough Council has installed a new set of lights in the Sun Colonnade in the first of a series of winter improvement in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.

The council spent £15,000 on LED lighting to make the area, which has been subject to anti-social behaviour, more attractive and safer.

In the coming weeks the council plans to steam clean the Sun Colonnade and remove some of the heavy ivy, which would encourage growth of other vines.

The council is also planning to add lights to the trees along the lime tree walk, adjacent to the Sun Colonnade

It comes ahead of a £240,000 refurbishment of the nearby Sun Pavilion, which is set to be complete by February next year.

The Sun Pavilion improvements include reconstructing the floor, new underfloor heating and insulation as well as new floor coverings.

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A spokesperson for the council said:

“The new lights in the Sun Colonnade have been installed to improve and enhance this area of the gardens.

“The energy efficient LED lighting comes on late afternoon and then goes off late at night and will provide lighting to this area for many years to come.

“We have a whole programme of maintenance and improvements in Valley Gardens this winter, including steam cleaning the Sun Colonnade and removing some of the heavy ivy from the roof to allow more light through and other vines to flourish, as well as installing tree lights along Lime Tree Walk.

“Valley Gardens is both popular with residents and visitors and we want to enhance the use of this beautiful space to allow us to do more in the future.”