THE future looks bright for Christmas lights in Petersfield, with a dazzling new display planned for the festive season.

The plans were unveiled to Petersfield town councillors last week by Vernon Peake, the chairman of the new group set up to market the town, which is calling itself Petersfield Marketing Ltd (PML).

And town councillors have given the group their backing and agreed to release to them £10,000 earmarked in the budget for Christmas lights before the end of the year. Mr Peake showed councillors plans for new displays to be strung across the road in Chapel Street and High Street, as well as innovative displays for The Square.

He told The Herald these would cost around £6,400 and added: "This is just the starting block, we are aiming to extend the lights further across the town in the next two to three years."

He said all the town's previous lights had been examined and many had been repaired to use as silhouettes against buildings in Dragon Street and High Street this year, in addition to the brand new displays.

"The new displays will be paid for by money we have raised and money given to us by the town council, and next year we will be adding to the displays with something special for Lavant Street," said Mr Peake.

He said it was a new era for Petersfield, but did not want to be drawn on the controversial problems of the past which had left the town with what was universally described as "a poor show" last year.

The previous marketing group APE had spent more than £6,000 on snowflake lights strung around The Square, many of which fell from their cables over Christmas, leaving big gaps in the display.

"I don't want to harp on about the past," said Mr Peake. "That was down to the people who were in charge of the lights before us. This new volunteer group is committed to making sure Petersfield gets what it deserves and is also committed to promoting the shops and attracting shoppers to the town."

The new displays will be switched on at a special ceremony in The Square on November 25 which will come complete with a host of festive activities in the centre of town. It has been timed to take place at the same time as the Rams Walk switch on.

The PML group is also preparing to host its second family fun day this time on Sunday, August 28, in The Square, aimed at drawing mums, dads and children into the town and promising a variety of attractions including a bouncy castle, coconut shy, raffles and side shows and Drum 4 Fun.

Mr Peake said PML was also hoping to resurrect the November Children in Need event, which several years ago was a major date on Petersfield's calendar.

In addition, he has plans to make much more use of The Square, encouraging cafes and pubs to put out tables and chairs to bring more life to the town centre.

"We are meeting the challenge to market the town and hope to have the backing of the traders, to be there when we need their assistance in donating prizes and organising events for the town."