Appeal for funds for Christmas lights in Hoylake

Dec 16 2009 by Carrie Catterall, Heswall News

SANTA has no excuse for missing Hoylake now the lights are up, but it could be different next year.

Since the council stopped giving money to communities for Christmas lights people have had to pull together more than ever in order to have a bright festive season.

Lorraine McKinley, treasurer of Hoylake Business group, said: “This year we had to apply to the council’s area forum for money for our Christmas lights.

“Last year, however, we were just given money but this new system means we have no guarantee of getting any cash for lights.

“It usually cots us around £5,000 for all the decorations in Hoylake village and, luckily, this year we managed to raise enough money to put them up as we also had money left over from last year.

“But next year we will really need the people of Hoylake to help raise these funds otherwise there could be no Christmas lights.

“We could apply for funding and be turned down and there’s nothing we can do about that.

“So if people want lights then they’ll have to help raise the money for them.”

Villages and towns across the borough are all facing the same problems and organisers who put up the lights feel that people don’t always appreciate the hard work they put in.

Lorraine added: “We’ve been working on the funding for our Christmas lights since June and it’s taken us a while to get everything sorted, which is why the lights went up a little later than usual.

“I want to say a big thank you to Chris Williams from Island Electrical, because he really helped us get the village feeling Chrismassy faster.

“We really hope people appreciate all the hard work we’ve put in and support us next year so the 2010 display is as good as our one this year.

“Lights really add to the Christmas spirit.”