Donate a pound appeal suggested to secure Hoylake’s festive lights

Aug 20 2008 by Matt Hurst, Hoylake and West Kirby News

CHRISTMAS may seem a long way off, but organisers are appealing for every Hoylake resident to donate £1 to secure the town’s festive lights.

Jan Foster has been maintaining the display for the past 10 years and receives money from Wirral Council, as long as it is matched by funds generated by the community.

The woman behind Hoylake in Bloom says £2,147 from public coffers have been earmarked, but concedes she is worried businesses may not be able to contribute as heartily as gloomy trading conditions continue.

The retired pet shop owner told the News: “If every household in Hoylake could pay £1, we would end up with something like £11,000.

“What could we do with that kind of money?”

And to encourage donations, Jan has even set up a bank account allowing donors to make their contribution direct.

The mother-of-two estimates Hoylake Gala Lights Appeal would need around £5,000 to make the lights viable.

She said: “To put up the Hoylake lights would cost around £4,500 to £5,000 - and that’s without improvement.

“The main cost is putting them up and pulling them down again, not buying new ones all the time.”

Events are being planned to raise funds, and those wishing to help can also leave money in one of the Hoylake in Bloom jars dotted around the town’s shops and in the library.

Jan said: “A lot of people say the businesses should pay for all of it, but it’s beneficial for everybody.

“If we want towns to look good, we all have to care for them.

“These days, unfortunately, everybody expects somebody else to do it and what we need is for everybody to do a little bit, not a few people doing a lot.”

And even though Jan and other helpers are continuing their summer role maintaining Hoylake’s floral displays, with Christmas either a distant memory or a far off prospect for most, she says the need is urgent if the popular festive lights are to continue.

l To make your contribution, use bank account number 11247603 and sort code 402508