Urgent appeal for Oban festive lights funding

A minimum of £20,000 is going to need to be raised this year to stage a Christmas display in Oban, it has been revealed, writes Ellis Butcher.

BID4Oban said the sum is needed to replace and enhance the festive lights and decorations which go up in town.

However, the business group has stressed it could not pay for it all and a fundraising drive would need to be organised.

Time is also of the essence because the BID4Oban group has meetings with contractors next month, while any new decorations would need to be ordered in plenty of time as they would need to be made.

Andy Spence, chief executive, said while BID could support funding it could not pay for it all and has said it required another organisation to come along and take on the project.

He said: ‘The situation we are in for 2021 Christmas is the vast majority of the lights that were up in the town need to be replaced. BID are under no liability to supply these or fund these, although we are willing to work with any community group that will support us in raising the revenue.

‘We are now at a critical stage and what was up will not be going up this year as it’s not fit for purpose. If we want a fantastic Christmas display within the town it will need to be funded. Bid4Oban can support some of it but we can’t support all of it.’

The lights for the main trees in Oban were new this year and will stay but all the rest are past their best condition, with 106 smaller Christmas trees also being provided for the town.