Weymouth BID successfully won £10,000 worth of Christmas Lights in September 2016 beating 12 other towns in the Blanchere Christmas Light Competition.
The lights were switched on at the annual Lighting up Ceremony on 3rdDecember as part of the Weymouth BIG Christmas promotion for 2016.
New lights have been installed St Thomas Street, St Mary Street, Lower Bond Street and St Albans Street which included lighting in trees.
The main Christmas tree in Millennium Square sponsored by Dorset Lettings has also been added to and four smaller trees around the square.
A new feature this year is the cornet lights by the Harbour in Trinity Road which would not have been possible without the £10,000.
The BID also offered a 36% discount on the installation of a Christmas Trees with lights to Shops and Hotels above their premises; this was taken up by 24 businesses providing 33 additional trees in the town.
Nigel Reed BID Manager said “The additional lights have really added to the atmosphere and we were keen to spread the lights around the town. WPBC and their contractors have also been very supportive in the installation of the new lights.”
He added “We are also pleased with the take up of Christmas Trees in our first year of providing this offer. Many of the brackets currently above premises are quite old and rusted so we were able to offer at cost a new quality bracket for those that wanted it which can be used all year round.”
The Christmas lights have added to festive effect around the town’s very own real ice rink which has returned for a second year.
Weymouth’s BIG Christmas Real Ice Rink has been open to the public since the 2ndDecember and is open until 2ndJanuary 2017.
This year, Icescape the supplier of the Ice Rink, has installed a chiller that reaches minus 20 degrees which will prepare the ice for any warm weather that may occur through December.
Mark Smith, Director of Icescape said “Last year’s weather was abnormally warm and rinks across the country were affected with some having to close. We are supplying -20 chillers to certain locations to prepare this year. Bournemouth’s outdoor rink currently uses the chillers and the warmer temperatures experienced in November have not affected the rink’s ice.”
Steve Newstead Weymouth BID Chair said “This year’s Christmas promotion is based on Shopping by the Sea which includes free parking after 3pm, a discount voucher book to use around the town for those that use the Ice Rink and an all-day parking offer at the Swannery for those that buy Ice Rink tickets online.”
He added “I would like to thank Gold sponsor Dorset Lettings and Silver Sponsors Resort Marketing, T G Murless Electrical and Pengillys for their support this year.”
Any enquiries to Nigel Reed, BID Manager,Weymouth BID Ltd
