Event is not the best idea now

I’m writing in response to the article on page 5 of last week’s Midhurst and Petworth Observer entitled ‘Date announced for Christmas event’.

I’m extremely surprised that the town council can even consider the idea of holding an event this year. The number of Covid-19 cases is increasing daily, as is the ‘R’ figure and this looks to continue.

I would be very interested to see the plan councillors have in place to ‘police’ numbers and keep social distancing in place with stalls in High Street, Lombard Street, Market Square, the Leconfield Hall and the United Reformed Church.

With limited numbers would it really be feasible for stall holders to cover their costs?

In recent years, the Christmas Light’s Switch-on has become so popular that people have travelled from as far away as London and the coast, causing traffic chaos in the town, parking on street corners, double yellow lines and blocking entrances to houses.

Does the council have a plan to limit vehicular access to the town? The announcement that the decision as to whether it will take place and in what format is to be given two weeks before the event is far too late.

We are very lucky to live in such a lovely area which has not, as of now, seen many Covid-19 cases, and I hope this will continue.

For the safety of the town and its nearby villages I urge councillors to reconsider their decision and cancel the event now.

This is not just my view, I haven’t spoken to or heard of anyone who doesn’t feel the same way.

JEAN HUGGETT Orchard Close Petworth