The lights are back on

After weeks of uncertainty, it’s been confirmed Rye will have Christmas lights on the High Street this year. Volunteers celebrated the news at an extra-ordinary meeting of Rye Town Council on Monday 3 November.

Barring last-minute issues or pledged money not coming forward, the lights will be installed over several evenings starting on 24 November.

A group of volunteers led by Fran Huxley from Simply Rye and Michael Jones from Merchant and Mills stepped in after previous plans to install the lights fell through. Safety and insurance issues were part of the problem, along with funding and changes connected to the cancellation of the Rye Christmas Festival.

Councillors heard pledges to donate towards the cost of hanging the lights have been received from 89 businesses and local people so far. A Crowdfunder has been launched  (details below) and a fundraising night will take place at the Queen’s Head this Saturday 8 November.

The money raised will pay towards the cost of new lighting (£8000), installing them (£6000) and taking them down (£2000). A contractor has been booked to carry out the work. New lights are being used as the current LED strings of decorations would require nearly sixty electric sockets to be installed and made compliant with safety regulations.

Mayor Andy Stuart said the town was hugely indebted to the volunteers’ enthusiasm and dedication. “You have been so quick and people so generous. It really is a sterling effort.”

He praised the working group that has pulled things together, along with the clerks at the town hall. “We also should say thanks to the people who have arranged for the lights to go up in the past too. The memory of what the lights looked like showed the horror of having none.”

The current plan will see new Christmas lights installed on Hilders Cliff, The Mint, and both sides of the High Street, Lion Street and Market Road.

That means some areas of the town will not have Christmas lights says Fran Huxley. “We would have loved to have more time and raised more money to light up Cinque Ports Street, The Strand and around Rye Station.”

“It’s been amazing to watch people and businesses pull together,” she said. “It just shows what a fantastic community we have in Rye. To do the whole town was too much so it seemed sensible to do a large part and then build on it for next year. But this year, by 27 November, we will have lights!”

Making Rye’s Christmas lights sustainable from year to year was an important part of working group’s proposals said Michael Jones. “Thank you so much to everyone who has shown support, it’s been truly overwhelming. We’re looking at training volunteers for next year to bring down running costs. We’re also seeing whether the existing lights can be used by businesses in other parts of the town.”

Interested businesses in Rye who could make use of the old lights (15m lengths) should email Sophie.christmasinrye@gmail.com for more details.

The current plan was widely supported by councillors who also voted to contribute £4,000 from the Council’s Christmas earmarked reserve. The town council will appoint the preferred lights contractor on condition it has received £10,000 of the money pledged by the end of next week.

Speaking after the meeting, the enthusiasm for supporting the Christmas lights was explained by Sally Abel, one of the volunteers who have been gathering pledges. “Everyone has been so positive. I was in a clothes shop explaining about the appeal when a lady suddenly came out of the changing rooms and gave me some cash.”

“We’ve had pledges from abroad too,” she said. “It’s fantastic the lights are happening. Like an early Christmas present.”

Meanwhile, the Christmas Window Display Competition has been launched by Rye Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Rye News and Rye Town Council.

Judging will take place in the last week of November, with the winner announced on 28 November as part of the Christmas Tree Festival in St Mary’s church.

Image Credits: James Stewart , Nick Forman .