New contracts have been awarded by Bath & North East Somerset Council to provide Christmas light displays across the district for the next four years.
The Christmas Light Trail in Bath last year | Photo © Visit Bath
Field & Lawn, one of the UK’s largest providers of festive lighting, will be providing traditional Christmas lighting.
In addition, Fineline Lighting Ltd has been contracted to project animations onto some streets, as well as illuminate historic buildings to show off the city’s architecture, reducing both installation and energy costs as well as emissions.
Fineline has been one of Glastonbury Festival’s chosen suppliers for more than 25 years.
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of the Council, said: “In the current climate we need to do everything we can to support visitors and businesses.
“I am delighted the council has secured these new, flexible Christmas lights contracts for the next four years.
“Light Projections have grown in popularity and we can now complement the traditional lights with innovative, sustainable, flexible, illuminations to create a truly magical Christmas for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”
The new contracts allow the flexibility for partners such as town and parish councils, businesses and sponsors to contribute to enhance Christmas lights displays.
Councillor Guy added: “I would like to thank all our partners who are working with us to provide fantastic Christmas lights across our area, whether that is in Bath city centre, local shopping centres in Moorland Road, Combe Down, Larkhall and Weston, or in Keynsham, Midsomer Norton and Radstock town centres.
“Working in partnership on projects such as this is crucial at a time when our communities and businesses need all the support they can get.”
Allison Herbert, Chief Executive Bath Business Improvement District, added: “The BID welcomes the council’s ongoing commitment to providing Christmas lighting and is pleased to work alongside the council and other partners to make the city an attractive festive destination this year to welcome visitors back to a revitalised Christmas Market once again.”
Andrew Davies, from Milsom Place, added “We welcome the return this year of the Bath Christmas Market and enhanced investment in festive lighting.
“Food and beverage, retail and lifestyle businesses, such as those at Milsom Place and in its vicinity, greatly depend on the so-called ‘golden quarter’ where takings can make up to a third of their annual turnover.
“An exciting long-term commitment to a new scheme of Christmas lighting and projections has the potential to attract a significant increase in visitor numbers, dwell time and spending to enable businesses to prosper, invest and improve their sustainability throughout the year and for the longer term.”
