Council prepare to beat weather for festive occasion

By Connor Steel

FAREHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL have announced they are determined to ensure that the Christmas Lights Switch On will still be going ahead tomorrow (November 23) amidst weather concerns; but have warned all potential visitors that a series of changes have been made to the popular event to guarantee the safety of everybody attending the “festivities”.

This comes after the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for Fareham across the weekend as Storm Bert looks set to push large winds and rain to the Borough. It follows five days of freezing temperatures and hazardous conditions across the region including snow on Thursday morning; which brought a number of ‘traffic delays and accidents’ locally.

With potentially dangerous conditions due Saturday, the council have stated that the food concessions and most bigger funfair rides will likely be unable to operate as planned because of the safety restrictions. However smaller sized funfair attractions are still set to be available along West Street, with the majority of scheduled activities now moving “indoors”.

Funyard Events are running a festive market and can be found within the old Clarks shop based in the shopping centre space, where there will be a range of community performances and walkabout artist through the facility. Cast members from the upcoming Cinderella Pantomime will further be entertaining visitors and there is due to be a ‘star-themed trail’.

The council will further be using the old Woolworths/Job Centre building on West Street to accommodate a selection of children’s arts / crafts activities; which are said to be Christingle making, bubble workshop and circus skills alongside a set of festive music. It is hoped that this countdown will go ahead as planned at 5:30pm from the Performance Podium.

Councillors have urged people to dress approximately for the conditions and they will keep monitoring forecasts before any final decisions are made. They have asked that the public check on the link or on the council’s social media pages.

PICTURED BY PIXABAY: Council are determined to ensure that festive event is undeterred by poor weather forecasts.