Taunton Christmas lights receive £5k boost (From Somerset County Gazette)
Get involved! Send your photos, video, news & views by texting COUNTY GAZETTE to 80360 or email us
Taunton Christmas lights receive £5k boost
10:00am Thursday 11th October 2012 in News
By Daniel Milligan
Cllr Kelly Durdan
HOPES of making Taunton town centre sparkle at Christmas received a huge boost this week.
Cllr Kelly Durdan set up a working group called Make Taunton Sparkle after the County Gazette reported last week that the lights scheme could be limited and said she has had a great response.
As we went to press, total donations had reached £5,000 and Cllr Durdan has received the green light for an official switch-on after the town’s daytime celebrations on Sunday, November 18.
She said: “Everything is in place for what promises to be a spectacular end to an already fun-packed family day.
“But money needs to be raised to fund the lights that would be needed to make Taunton sparkle and highlight what a beautiful town we live in.”
Cllr Durdan, who is working with Taunton Town Centre Company, said she needs to raise £20,000 for lighting to be proud of but admitted it could be tough in the difficult economic climate.
She added: “We have raised a lot so far and there are many other fundraising plans to help reach the target.
“If everyone reading this were to donate at least £1 the total would cover the cost of lights and more.
“There has been a fantastic response already, so let’s pull together as a community, raise spirits, the profile of the town and make it a magical place to be this Christmas.”
Any money left over from the cost of the lights will be used to make food parcels for the homeless and other charities.
The Make Taunton Sparkle team is collecting in Taunton town centre from now until the end of October and hopes businesses will put collection pots in their shops.
To get involved or donate, e-mail Kelly on cllr.k.durdan@googlemail.com
Comments(10)
Bigkez
says...
11:53am Thu 11 Oct 12
swjoduk
says...
1:09pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Lets just stick to quality lights and a traditional switch on. People are there to see the lights and its the lights that last the festive period not just a one off display.
swjoduk
says...
1:09pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Lets just stick to quality lights and a traditional switch on. People are there to see the lights and its the lights that last the festive period not just a one off display.
michelle roberts
says...
1:47pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Merchant Mark
says...
7:11pm Thu 11 Oct 12
Good luck Kelly, I fear getting the full backing of your fellow councillors may be an up hill struggle.
tom norman
says...
12:10am Fri 12 Oct 12
tom norman
says...
12:12am Fri 12 Oct 12
tom norman wrote:ooops loose change lol
why cant boxes be put in shops for donations then peeps would know that they have helped to put the lights up,every ones loose chage would make a differance however big or small .
Sueglenn
says...
9:20am Fri 12 Oct 12
swjoduk
says...
1:50pm Fri 12 Oct 12
tom norman wrote:Because the scumbags would only steel them when backs are turned!
why cant boxes be put in shops for donations then peeps would know that they have helped to put the lights up,every ones loose chage would make a differance however big or small .
souwesterly says...
11:01am Thu 11 Oct 12
I do sincerely hope that, if and when there's a switching-on ceremony, that the tight-fisted councillors who can't see their way to using some of our money for the lights are NOT present and are NOT permitted to stand around looking fat and beaming with bonhomie.
Instead, pride of place should be for those with enough public spirit to share their cash.