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Residents’ dim view of festive lights

Jo Rostron
30/11/2005

THE Christmas lights may have been switched on this week but it seems for many they are far from illuminating.

Long a source for criticism, this year's display has done little to reverse that trend and already a reader has penned a letter to the Advertiser branding them "an embarrassment".

"What does Mr Dobbin think when he switches on a few bulbs in Heywood," the Bury Old Road resident wrote.

"They are hardly a threat to the National Grid."

The letter also recalls the display of bright coloured bulbs outside St Luke's Church in years gone by and states that those outside the Civic Hall are a waste, leaving the centre of Heywood looking "bare and depressing".

That view is echoed by Dr Marian Corns, who was an outspoken member of the now-defunct Township Festive Lights Sub-Committee.

"We came up with all sorts of ideas for different lights but still the same ones go up every Christmas.

"We want to get the tree put back in front of St Luke's. When former Councillor George Dowie retired he planted a fir tree outside the church and Township paid for an electric point to be put in.

"The tree is there so why can't we have the lights to go on it?

"As for the civic centre, people only see that area if they are travelling in the direction of Manchester, those going to or from Rochdale don't see them at all."

But there could be a ray of light for the future with plans to get the public more involved in planning and raising money for the display.

Marian, who is also chairman of Heywood's Housing, Environment, and Safety Task group, Township's first port of call for help, said a lot of people had shown an interest in getting involved.

Improving the lights will be one of the first items on the agenda for HEST's first meeting of the New Year.


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Most recent 1 of 1 user comments

   As a former resident of Heywood, born and bred there I take exception at poor lights at christmas, in Heywood I presume its the responsibility of Rochdale, they could do more out of there large budgets, especially from council tax. Fear not Heywood residents you are not on your own, in the town I am exiled in, Wellington in Somerset the lights are the worst I have seen. Here its the responsibility of Taunton Deane Borough Council and they simply dont care, we have tried but it always falls on deaf ears. I have worked for 30 years as a TV News cameraman and seen some wonderul lights in many towns. Let me take this opportunity of wishing everyone in Heywood a Very Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year 2006.

David Henighan
David Henighan, Wellington,Somerset
4/12/2005 at 03:45
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