Portishead will twinkle this Christmas after agreement was reached to still put up the festive illuminations.
Questions had been raised as to whether the lights– described as the ‘best in the west’ – would go up this year due to a change in regulations.
North Somerset Council had issued tougher regulations to the Portishead Christmas Lights committee earlier this year.
One of the new requirements was for those putting up lights to be registered with the Highway Electrical Register Scheme (HERS).
Additional testing was also required on the equipment.
Now after months of negotiations, the council and committee has reached an agreement to allow the display to up.
The army of volunteers will work on Sunday, November 22 to put up the lights with the lights going on the same day.
Due to coronavirus the annual switch on – usually attended by crowds of thousands – has had to be cancelled.
Portishead Christmas Lights Committee chairman Stuart Hamer said: “There was concerns raised about how the lights would go up but we have negotiated with the council.
“We will be erecting the lights as in previous years using our volunteers.
“There will be additional checks carried out on the lights to ensure that we comply with regulations.”
The festive illuminations cost around £20,000 which is funded by fundraising and grants, including cash from Portishead Town Council.
The display stretches from the Whitecott Stores to Waitrose and features around 8,000 bulbs.
The Tree of Light will be erected as normal on top of the Somerset Hall and the tower of St Peter’s Church will also continue be lit as part of this year’s display.
As well as the cancellation of the switch on, the pandemic has also put pay to the town’s annual Victorian evening.
The event was a main fundraiser for the lights.
People are now being asked to dig deep and ensured is plays in future years can go ahead,
“Due to the coronavirus pandemic we have seen all of our fundraising events cancelled,” added Mr Hamer.
“The Victorian Evening was also a main fundraiser towards the cost of the display.
“As a result we have lost a lot of our income this year.
“To help us secure the light for the next few years we need peoples’ help.”
A Just Giving page has been set up for those who want to donate at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ptownchristmaslights.
