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Xmas Lights Go Up Extra Early In Lancashire Town

Wed, 28 Sep 2011
Christmas has come early for residents of Heywood town, near Rochdale, which has already been decorated with festive lights, giant Santas and huge candles .

Despite soaring temperatures and lots of sunshine forecast for the rest of the week, Rochdale council has continued its tradition of getting into the Christmas spirit early, with cherry-pickers hitting the streets of Heywood to put up this years Xmas lights and decorations .

The Councils decision to put up the festive lights early has been criticised in the past, but this year officials say the installation of the lights is happening now in conjunction with the replacement of street lighting and to ensure the lights are ready for the big switch on events in November.

John Patterson, executive director of Rochdale Borough Council, said: "Like many councils, the installation of the majority of our Christmas lights begins in October, and runs until mid November, to ensure displays are ready for the big switch on events."

"We are currently undertaking a major project to replace old street lighting, and are installing the festive displays too, which is more cost effective than having separate crews working at the same time."

He added that starting the installation across the borough any later would require extra street lighting engineers and therefore increase the overall cost.

Father Paul Daly, from St Luke's Church, in Heywood, said: "I'm relaxed abut the lights going up. They're up but they're not on."

"If it saves them money putting them up gradually in a phased kind of way, that's fine. I suppose in this day and age we should be glad we've got lights after all."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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