PETERSFIELD town councillors say the future of The Square and the town's Christmas lights is "in limbo" – with the future of the company currently responsible for them going through a regime change. Petersfield Marketing Limited has been in charge of putting up the Christmas lights and leasing out The Square for various uses, but chairman Vernon Peake leaves at the end of January. And town councillors feel time is running out to offer a contract to someone to carry out future festive duties. Petersfield Marketing Limited also leases The Square for other events, including the Christmas festivities and Children in Need fun. Mr Peake said the important issue surrounded who would take over the licence for leasing out The Square, pointing out that it should be for the benefit of Petersfield and not "self profit". A volunteer was set to take over from Mr Peake, but so far the Association of Petersfield Businesses has yet to put anyone forward for the position. East Hampshire District Council is currently considering the future of The Square in terms of its community use. Bob Ayer said the town council and Petersfield Marketing Limited would be consulted on whatever decision was made by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC), adding: "The problem for us as a council is, first and foremost, when does the first decision have to be made? At the moment the lights money has not been allocated to a company." Town clerk Neil Hitch said it was important that councillors made sure the issue was not forgotten as EHDC's decision in May could leave it too late for the lights to be sorted. February was proposed as a suitable date. George Watkinson said: "The end of February will be the deadline if we want to have a new display. I am gravely concerned about this as we seem to be in limbo. "Petersfield Marketing Limited worked out all the costings for leasing out The Square. We could buy the lights in, but we will need another few thousand pounds to put them up. We are in trouble. Petersfield Marketing Limited recommended to go for new ones." In addition to the costs of buying or leasing lights and their erection, Petersfield Marketing Limited is currently paying £65 per month for lights storage. The Christmas lights working group in December, comprising members of Petersfield Town Council and Petersfield Marketing Limited, proposed two options for the future of the lights. One was to continue grant funding Petersfield Marketing Limited, who would choose the lights to be leased and arrange installation, with a representative from the council continuing to attend their meetings. The other option was for the town council to decide what lights it wished to lease, place the order, and contract Petersfield Marketing Limited to deal with assembly and storage. At the meeting, councillors learned that Mr Peake would be working with the Festive Lighting company, and had suggested retaining the lighting business for Petersfield through them, with installation conducted by Petersfield Marketing Limited. Mr Peake advised that the Festive Lighting Company offered competitive prices and that Petersfield Marketing Limited had been disappointed at the presence provided by Blachere, the current providers during their term of agreement. Mr Ayer added: "My guess is that we may be in a position to supply a contract for the supply of the lights. I would guess that is the February item, the decision as to who erects these lights."
