Arbroath Community Council is facing a financial race against time to put the sparkle into the town’s festive season.
The body has taken on the “monumental task” of sourcing enough cash to ensure the community has a Christmas lights display and is days from launching a crowdfunding campaign to take the five-figure funding effort across the finish line.
Burghs across the district have taken on the responsibility of organising Christmas lights displays from cash-strapped Angus Council, and Arbroath Community Council chairman Marc Ritchie said the group was determined the December 1 switch-on would be bigger and better than ever.
He said: “We need to raise £12,000 to make the Christmas lights in Arbroath shine brightly this winter, with any extra funding going towards purchasing new lights for next year as a number of them need replacing.
“A public meeting will be held to allow local people to vote on any new lights purchased.
“The Christmas tree switch-on takes place on December 1 and members of the community council plan this will be a bigger event this year, with entertainment, Santa and a Victorian Christmas market in Market Place.”
The crowdfunding appeal will be launched at the weekend, with details available on the community council’s facebook page. An array of prizes for supporters of the campaign will include the chance for one lucky youngster to flick the switch on the Christmas tree lights.
“A number of shops and businesses have agreed to have collection cans on their premises across Arbroath,” added Mr Ritchie.
“If half of the population in the town gave £1 then the lights could go up. That is just 2p a week over a year.”
The group has also submitted grant applications to a variety of sources and has organised fundraising events including bag pack sessions at Tesco and Morrisons on October 28, when representatives of other town organisations will help out.
A prize bingo and stovie night will take place at the Portcullis on Friday November 3 and a high street bucket collection on November 10.
Donations or prizes for any of the events can also be handed in to the next community council meeting, which takes place on Tuesday at Volunteer Action Angus, Guthrie Port at 7pm.
