Norie-Miller Walk could be permanent
Winter festival success sparks bright idea
The hit success of the NorieMiller Walk light nights over the winter could see it become a regular fixture.
Perth and Kinross Council is considering kitting out the riverside parkland permanently so that it can host light shows at any time of the year.
More than 50,000 people came to visit the Norie-Miller lights over 18 nights in January and February, with themes including Burns’ Night, Chinese New Year and St Valentine’s Day, and entertainment including circus acts and choirs.
It is understood that PKC wants to incorporate the event as part of the £12million City of Light action plan.
The plans were due to be shown to businesses interested in getting involved in the project, which would see buildings and vennels in the Fair City lit up with spotlights and projections, on Thursday this week.
Alan Farnington, a member of the team leading the project, said the event exceeded everyone’s expectations: “If we get this right, we could see it snowball across Scotland.
“Other places will look at what we’re doing and put together their own similar plan. We’ve recently seen that Aberdeen came up with their own lighting strategy.
“We wouldn’t want the same lights to be on all year round. It’s important that we keep changing it.”
The Norie-Miller lights project is projected to cost the council £5m over the next six years, with additional funding coming from property owners and the Scottish Government.
No timescale has been set for the City of Lights plan, which could The Chinese-themed display earlier this year
see sites such as Queen’s Bridge, the High Street and Kinnoull Hill
Tower lit up alongside the Council Chambers.