OSCP Council Meeting on 12th February 2013. Our response

Whilst it was sad to hear via councillor Madeline Russell that the findings of an independent electrical assessment of the lights has concluded that the majority of lights used in 2011 are already not up to a required safety standard and that the remainder of the old lights would be unusable by 2014, the Biggleswade Christmas Lights volunteer group are really pleased with the response from council to public feedback to the new lights.

Public response to an online survey via Facebook. Over 3,000 Biggleswade residents were presented with an online vote. Of the 200+ responses in the seven days after the 2012 lights switched on 3.3% of the respondents approved of the new lights with 96.7% of respondents wanting to see a return to the original lights design with or without the new lights. These statistics were distributed to all council members present at the 12th February OSCP Meeting held in council chambers, along with specific comments from members of the public received by the Christmas Lights volunteer group. More information is available on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/BiggleswadeLights

Councillor David Albone expressed concern at the absence of festoons across the road and recommended this be addressed in the future.

Councillor George Wilson said he was surprised by the absence of colour in the new lights and that he had assumed from Lamps & Tubes black and white pre-sales impression of what was being leased would have been more colourful in reality.

There was a general acknowledgement from several Councillors including Councillor Madeline Russell that there were not enough lights this year.

Councillor Hazel Ramsey confirmed that Christmas lights would be back in Hitchin Street for 2013

The icing on the Christmas cake was a statement from the Mayor Tim Woodward that the council will setup a discussion with the volunteer group (as well as with the Chamber of Trade) and that further public meetings will be held to discuss the future of the lights so that public opinion will shape the future of the lights for Biggleswade Town.

Our volunteer group are ready to fundraise for lights in future years but will hold fire until the council have completed a private meeting with Lamps and Tubes and given us reassurances that additional festoons across the roads, and multicoloured lights can be incorporated into the future design for the lights either before the three year contract with Lamps & Tubes ends after 2014 or sooner.

Bill Simmons
Feedback@Biggleswade-Lights.org