New Christmas lights for Chertsey town centre

The new lights will be paid for with a £10,000 grant from the Welcome Back Fund and will bring a sparkle to the following roads from November:

• London Road
• Windsor Street
• Staines Lane
• Guildford Street

The lights will be managed and coordinated with other light displays in Chertsey, by the Chertsey Society.

Cllr Nick Prescot, Leader of the Council said:

Our shopping streets will need support for months to come following the Covid-19 pandemic. This funding is most welcome and a very practical way we can encourage people into Chertsey to enjoy the festive atmosphere and shop locally this Christmas.
 

We will work with the Chertsey Society to be sure the lights are used in the most effective way possible, but they will help make the town a place local businesses and the community can be proud of.
 

We are also keen to attract visitors to help improve the local economy so I would really encourage people from across our Borough and from Weybridge, Staines and elsewhere to make the short journey over and see what our shops, bars and restaurants have to offer.”

Bringing the new lights to Chertsey is a boost for the town, which has not had new displays for several years. Arrangements for an official switching on event will be announced closer to the time.

Neighbouring Addlestone had lights installed in 2019 in Station Road, while Addlestone One shopping centre also funded lights in its area. Egham was awarded money through the Mary Portas Fund to support its high street several years ago and part of this money paid for lights. In more recent years, Places for People, the Council’s development partner on the Magna Square development has also funded lights for the town.

The Welcome Back Fund and the Re-Opening the High Street Fund were created to support projects which encourage people back into town and village centres. They are backed by the European Regional Development Fund.  In Runnymede, funding will be used in a number of ways, from promoting safety messages in the towns and neighbourhoods to beautifying the high streets by installing handing baskets and flower beds and carrying out repairs and maintenance works to street furniture.

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The Christmas lights in Chertsey are supported by ERDF funding