St Helens Council funding allows Newton's Christmas lights to go ahead

As reported by the Star, local businesses were encouraged to help save the Christmas lights project in Newton-le-Willows this year after the replacement of a council funded scheme.

With the High Street Christmas lights switch on event becoming a popular tradition in Newton-le-Willows, businesses such as Aman's Indian Restatuant, Zerizza takeaway, The Kirkfield Hotel, Scarlett's Walkies in the Willows, MSG Tyres, and Fraser Reeves Estate Agents donated thousands of pounds to help fund the project.

Through the Ward Councillor Grant Scheme, St Helens Council has now match funded the remaining £2,500 costs necessary to fund Newton's festive project.

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Newton's Christmas lights switch on will take place on December 1 this year (Image: Newton and Earlestown Community Group) With the Ward Councillor Grant Scheme replacing the previous 'Councillor Improvement Fund', this allows the council to grant individual councillors up to £2000 for community projects.

Communities do not necessarily extra support from businesses unless the cost of their events are more than the £2,000 that can raised via the councillor scheme.

This is the case in Newton, with the Newton and Earlestown Community Group reporting that it will cost upwards of £5,000 for the costs of the tree, lights, installation, storage and maintenance.

The community group has announced that the lights switch on event, outside St Peter's Church on High Street, will take place on Sunday, December 1.

St Helens' and Earlestown's Christmas events are planned to be supplied and supported as usual (Image: Bernard Platt) The community event in Newton is separate to the official Christmas lights switch on events in St Helens and Earlestown, where the trees are supplied by Rainford's Christmas Trees and paid for via sponsorship from partners such as regeneration contractors.

As the Councillor Improvement Fund has been removed, which helped to fund various festive projects, other areas are now also looking for further support to help fund their festive projects this year.

Green councillors have helped to fund this year's Christmas lights in Haydock out of their own pocked, for example, along with community groups and residents also fundraising to support the project.