Six more trees to light up Wilmslow

Having considered a number of options, Wilmslow Town Council has agreed its plans for extending the Christmas lights in the town centre this year.

Last year Wilmslow Town Council appointed Blachere to supply new Christmas lights for Grove Street, Alderley Road and Water Lane, at cost of £39,500, because the former Christmas lights had reached the end of their life.

This year they considered extending the lights on Alderley Road down to the Bollin Fee, lighting up Bank Square and installing new lights on Hawthorn Lane and/or Church Street.

It was decided at the Town Council meeting on Monday, 17th September, that the only additions they would make this year is to light up four trees on Bank Square and two trees on Alderley Road, preferably near the Bollin Fee end of the road.

The total cost for lighting these six additional trees will be £9200.

Cllr Ruth McNulty pointed out that "putting up lots of extra lights bumps up the annual charges. It is not just year one but the ongoing costs".

She added "Personally I am very committed to the idea of wrapping trees because long term it is better value for money."

Lights wrapped around trees apparently last for 10 to 12 years, as opposed to the banner lights and lighting columns on lamp posts which last 4 to 5 years. Additionally the maintenance costs are less as the tree lights do not have to be removed or stored, as they can stay on the trees.

Cllr Ruth McNulty commented "Every year we could perhaps wrap another couple of trees, we have then got the infrastructure which doesn't have any ongoing costs but we still have a town that is lit up."

In addition to the £9200 to light up six new trees the Town Council has ongoing costs of £7500 for the maintenance of the lights purchased last year, which they are already committed to.

Wilmslow Town Council also decided that the Christmas Tree will be sited at the same location as last year - on Banks Square.

The Town Council are also going to consider installing electricity at Memorial Gardens on South Drive, one of the other locations considered for this year's Christmas tree, to enable future events to be held there. The estimated cost for installing electricity in the area behind Hoopers and near to the library is £3000.