30 November 2017
GO! Southampton, the Business Improvement District (BID), has enhanced the festive feel of the city by adding significantly to the Christmas lights organised by the city council.
With limited time to get organised this year, the BID has concentrated on adding festoons, fairy lights, wall-mounted Christmas trees and lamppost motifs to areas of the city which up to now have not benefited from Christmas lights. Two giant baubles have also been installed in the cultural quarter which are adding atmosphere and interest as people try to line up perfect shot with the Guildhall tower behind.
Bedford Place, London Road, East Street and the Old Town have all seen new light installations, most of which will remain in place throughout the year, ready to be turned on again next Christmas. The festoon lights in London Road will remain illuminated at night all year round in the same way as the matching festoon lights on either side of Guildhall Square.
Director of London Road based franklinallan, Tim Duggan, thanked the BID for bringing seasonal cheer to London Road.
“Having had no lights in London Road for many years not only do the lights the BID has organised make you feel more festive I think it also encourages us as businesses to make more of an effort with our windows.”
Jeannie Norris, Company Director of the The Glass Lady on East Street has been delighted with the additions.
“We are much happier with the Christmas lights in East Street this year in fact they are the best we have seen since The Glass Lady has traded in East Street and we have been on this sight 28 years.”
The project was developed in collaboration with the city council to ensure that the additional lights and decorations complemented the council’s scheme. Spencer Bowman, Chair of the BID’s “Greater City Centre Experience” group commented on the success of the project.
“Animating our city centre with quality is a Go! Southampton business plan commitment and Christmas is one of our biggest priority areas. Our “Lighten Up” project will see Go! Southampton make investments in both permanent and temporary lighting infrastructure and installations that will show off more of our city in a positive light, creating attractive and high quality spaces for visitors to seek out, spend time in and return to. In our first year we have invested in a complementary lighting scheme that has prioritised areas of the city that needed a bit of extra sparkle. But GO! Southampton has a five year remit and we are already beginning discussions with Southampton City Council to ensure that next year’s Christmas lighting, from the Old Town through the parks right up to Bedford Place, are the most magical and spectacular yet.”