COLCHESTER could feel even more merry and bright this Christmas after plans were revealed to adorn the city centre with more festive lights.
The owners of GreyFriars Hotel and Restaurant and East Hill House are proposing an extension to the Christmas festive lighting scheme.
The lights currently begin in Head Street and go along the High Street down to the British Heart Foundation and St Nicholas Hotel.
The scheme would see the lights continue along the High Street to the far eastern end.
In the proposal, it says: “A meeting was held in May between Sam Lancaster who is the city centre manager, the owners of GreyFriars Hotel and Restaurant and East Hill House, and Sam Wood of Gala Lights, who are the approved specialist installers for the current lighting display along the High Street.
“The meeting identified it would be beneficial to city centre visitors and businesses to extend the scheme as proposed and a suggestion for the lighting was put forward by Gala Lights.”
The proposal is to install three successive illuminated catenary wires with pendants across the High Street between GreyFriars Hotel and Restaurant and East Hill House.
The design proposal has been developed by the lighting specialist, Gala Lights, and will match the existing scheme along the main High Street.
Whilst the GreyFriars Hotel is a Grade II listed Georgian building and East Hill House Grade I, the application says the proposed new fixings can be considered as “causing a low level of harm to the significance of the listed”.
It added: “The anticipated benefits of the seasonal festive lighting for the city’s public users and businesses would outweigh this harm”.
Colchester BID manager Sam Good said: “It is great to see the proposed extension of the lights into additional areas in the city centre.
“BID is also looking at extending into the other areas, such as Crouch Street and St Botolph’s Street to see that all of the city centre can enjoy Christmas to the fullest.”
David King, leader of Colchester City Council, said: “We are really pleased that there will be more Christmas lights than ever before in Colchester this year, as Greyfriars Hotel is investing in additional lights, outside the hotel, at the east end of the High Street.
“The Christmas lights are a very exciting addition to our wonderful city centre and bring much joy to residents and visitors. We work with businesses every year to make the city centre an attractive place to visit. And this year will see a new design theme for the lights this year, so keep your eyes open for the announcement coming in the autumn.”
Greyfriars was contacted for comment.
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