CHRISTMAS starts in Petersfield next Friday with the grand switch-on of the town's festive lights. And the group of volunteers who have been busy putting them up say the future looks bright for the Christmas lights. After a difficult first year finding finance for the beleaguered lights, chairman of Petersfield Marketing Limited (PML) Vernon Peake told The Herald he expected to be back on track next year, and he promised an extension of the festive lights display in Lavant Street, Dragon Street, and even along the Causeway. He said although PML had fallen £3,500 short of the £10,000 it had hoped to raise for this year's display, the group had finished the year with its head above water. It raised £6,500 through various events, and by saving £2,500 on insurance. Mr Peake said: "Although we were £3,500 short, we have managed to put on this year's display inside our means and we are not in debt to anyone." PML had not had to use an overdrfaft facility offered by the bank, he said. "This was just a safety net, but thankfully we do not owe anyone any money." Mr Peake explained that PML had a three-year contract with Blachere Illuminations, a Scottish company from which Petersfield hired its Christmas lights. In the first year of the deal, PML had to pay Blachere £26,000 which was done with a grant of £10,000 from Petersfield Town Council and other funds raised. For the remaining two years of the contract, PML will have to pay £6,000 each year. "Next year, if we get our expected £10,000 from Petersfield Town Council," said Mr Peake, "we will use £6,000 of this for the second-year contract, and for the first time we will have £4,000 to spare, which we will use for more lights in Petersfield. "We are not in the red at the moment," said Mr Peake, "and we do not expect to be. Next year is really looking good. We plan to do what we have promised all along and extend the lights using the £4,000 and anything else we raise." He said the first year was always going to be difficult for PML because of the financial situation the group inherited. "I don't want to rake over old ground," Mr Peake told The Herald, "but it is worth noting that we lost £6,000 when the supplier of the snowflake lights in The Square in 2004 went bankrupt and we were not able to recoup any of that money." He said at the end of the three-year hiring contract with Blachere, PML had the option of buying the current lights. "but we would rather change the contract and start again with a whole lot of new lights for the town," he said. In answer to criticism that the lights used to be organised by volunteers, Mr Peake added: "They are still done by volunteers and we only spend the money already available. "At no point has the group of volunteers used money which had not already been raised. The overdraft facility has not been used." The Christmas tree has already been put up in the Square and is due to be decorated on Saturday. The town's lights will be put up on Monday and Tuesday in time for the grand switch-on ceremony at the end of the week. As well as the usual display in the High Street and The Square, there will be an additional 12 shooting star lights in Lavant Street donated by Blachere. Two Lavant Street traders – Morgan Owen Opticians and One Tree Books – have bought their own motifs, and accountant Barter, Durgan and Muir has bought a four-foot high Christmas tree. There will be a new string of lights across Chapel Street, as well as Christmas trees bought by hairdressers John Peters, Between The Lines, and Waterlooville Carpets in Swan Street. Heidi's Patisserie in High Street has also bought two Christmas trees. On Friday night, there will be traditional Christmas activities including jazz courtesy of The Petersfield School, carol singing, and a visit by Father Christmas The fun starts at 5pm with the official lights switch- on at 7 pm by Harry Townsend and David Thirkeld, the two youngsters who raised £600 through an eight-mile sponsored bike ride.
