Discussions are continuing to try and find a way to put up the Christmas lights in Rye this year. As we reported last week, there are currently no plans to hang the decorations in spite of attempts to find a solution.
A packed meeting at the town hall on Monday October 13 heard passionate calls for the string lighting to go up this Christmas, as they have each year for almost a decade. To make the point, some members of the public wore battery powered fairy lights as they heard the Rye Town Council debate.
The reasons why there the lights won't be installed this year are extremely complicated said Cllr Sophie Thorpe, one of the organisers of the Rye Christmas Festival. Reading a statement, she listed issues including insurance and concerns there are not enough tested sockets to safely power the lights. "A lot of effort has been made but we've begged and borrowed for power sources for too long. Just along the High Street we need 60 sockets - and that's before you think about the roads around the town hall and Cinque Ports Street."
She proposed finding funding to store the lights this year, in the hope of everyone in the town working together to find a solution for 2026.
However local firms are very keen to make the lights happen now - and contribute towards their funding - said Fran Huxley from Simply Rye. "So many people have told us they want to make it work this year. If visitors come to Rye this Christmas and see there aren't any lights they won't come back next year."
"Businesses are coming forward," she told the meeting at the town hall. "We've had an offer to pay for the insurance and I've been getting quotes for assessing the power, making it compliant and hanging the lights. A professional firm has told me it will do all it can to put them up if we can get the funding."
"We will financially contribute and I'm sure other local businesses will too," said Michael Jones from Merchant and Mills. "If we pool resources we can see what is achievable this year."
Volunteers to help put up the lights were also coming forward, the meeting heard.
If the lights don't go up in Rye this year, a number of Christmas events are still planned. "St Mary's has the Christmas Tree festival starting late next month," said Roy Abel, encouraging everyone to take part. A carol service is also happening outside The George.
Rye Chamber of Commerce, which has also been trying to find a solution, is suggesting a . Christmas Window Competition. A similar idea in Tenterden is regarded as very successful in bringing visitors to the town.
Closing the discussion, Mayor Andy Stuart thanked everyone for taking part and encouraged people coming forward with ideas to meet at the town hall. "A meeting to get things moving," he said to applause.
