Letter: Christmas - Encouraging local support

Thanks to Harrogate Borough Council who provide core funding, to the local Co-op stores and CNG for sponsoring the ‘Big Switch-on’, to Victoria Shopping Centre for allowing us to use their Piazza, to Stray FM who organised the entertainment which again showcased the best in local talent, to the Harrogate Advertiser for your support and to the staff of CNG who again organised the collection at the big switch-on for the St Peter’s project.

This year’s lights were designed by Festive Lighting and installed by locally based Acorn Lighting Services and I would thank them for all their efforts in ensuring that we continue to improve the decorative display around the town.

Our Christmas shop window competition, organised by Harrogate Rotary, again saw an increase in the number of businesses participating. A big thanks to the volunteers of the Harrogate at Christmas Group who start their planning in January every year.

The Christmas Market was again a great success. Despite the weather we still attracted 60,000 visitors, which must be good for the local economy.

May I thank all the local residents living around the market site for their support or tolerance for the eight days we are on site, the local businesses around the site who work hard to welcome the many visitors, thanks to Brian and Beryl Dunsby of Yorkshire Business Market who do all the organising and administration for the market, and to Harrogate Rotary for helping organise the coach arrivals and departures.

We thank all our visitors for their comments and will keep these in mind when organising next year’s market.

Again, thanks to the Harrogate Christmas Market Group, who are all volunteers and work very hard to support the traders and to make the visitors welcome to our town.

The aim of both activities is to support our local economy by encouraging residents to stay in Harrogate and to encourage visitors to Harrogate. Our campaign “Shop locally...Celebrate locally...” continues. All the local businesses who supported the Harrogate Christmas lights this year display one of our red baubles - please support them.

If you any of your readers would like to volunteer to help either group, please contact me directly.

Coun John Fox

Chairman of the Harrogate at Christmas Group and

Harrogate Christmas Market