Thousands of residents and visitors were left “bitterly disappointed” after the Christmas lights switch on in a town.
Many flocked to the annual Lighting Up Brentwood extravaganza in Essex at the weekend which featured market stalls, live stage performances, costumed characters, an ice rink, and a Santa’s grotto. However, some attendees left feeling ‘bitterly disappointed’ as they claimed the event as not as good as it has been in previous years.
Disgruntled visitors voiced concerns over the variety and pricing of the market stalls, as well as the quality of the Christmas lights, which were described as “flickery”. Brentwood Council said the number of stalls was reduced, with some being cancelled or relocated due to safety issues caused by Storm Bert and gusts reaching 40mph.
Resident Kathy Rawlings told Essex Live: “Usually the high street is chock-a-block with stalls – but this year, half of the high street was really bare, and there were no stalls down Crown Street either. The lights were also pretty pathetic.
“Some stuff was really expensive, too – my daughter paid £8 for a tiny pina colada. I think that’s atrocious.”
A local business worker said: “When the lights came on – which were a bit delayed – they seemed very flickery and a bit dim. We have had customers coming in saying that the event was nowhere near as good as it has been in previous years.”
Brentwood Council insists this year’s lights are an improvement on previous past efforts. Councillor David Kendall, who chairs the Finance and Resources Committee at Brentwood Borough Council, said: “Even with the bad weather, we were pleased thousands of people came along to Lighting Up Brentwood to enjoy the free music, entertainment and the bustling shops and restaurants during this year’s Christmas lights switch-on.”
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“Despite the challenges posed by Storm Bert and the forecasted 40mph winds, the community’s understanding and support was greatly appreciated. To ensure public safety, we had to adjust our usual layout at the last minute to account for the predicted weather.”
“This year, the High Street featured 27 outdoor stalls with wind-tested gazebos and 16 indoor stalls offering crafts, gifts, food, and drinks. Unfortunately, due to safety concerns, many craft stalls had to be moved into the Baytree Centre or cancelled, which we understand was disappointing for some residents.”
“Regarding the High Street lights, they were switched on as planned at 5pm, with other areas such as Kings Road and Ongar Road lit earlier at 3.30pm due to the manual setting of columns. Any flickering issues with Essex County Council lamp columns will be reported, but I’m delighted to highlight the brighter, twinkling lights this year, funded by the Brentwood Connected BID, which were a significant improvement.
“Once again, we are grateful to everyone who came out to enjoy the event and made it a success despite the challenging weather conditions.”
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