The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Seasonal lights plan to tempt shoppers into city
Adazzling array of Christmas lights will lead visitors around an Aberdeen much changed by the pandemic this year.
With the Christmas village shelved in line with coronavirus guidance, a trail has been mapped through its heart in a bid to help the city’s economy through the winter.
The pandemic has already forced the cancellation of the Bonfire Night fireworks display and the Christmas light switch-on parade.
But it is hoped a trail leading from Guild Street to George Street and the West End will bring increased numbers of people through the doors of struggling businesses.
The council’s city growth and resources committee will be asked to approve the revised winter event schedule on Wednesday, making use of around £ 90,000 of the £ 150,000 set aside to fund the usual festivities. Eye- catching highlights would include a ceiling of Christmas lights under the bridge in Correction Wynd and a 15ft arched lighting feature in Broad Street, accompanied by a 10ft light- up Santa outside Marischal College and spotlights showing off the Green’s NuArt murals.
New pole-mounted lights would be erected in Guild Street, near Union Square, on the pedestrianised stretch of George Street and around the West End.
Several large Christmas trees would be installed around the city.
Council officials believe the features will “complement” the controversial physical distancing Spaces For People works in the city.
Despite the cancellation of the switch- on parade and Christmas village, the Union Street lights, Castlegate Christmas tree, St Nicholas Kirkyard nativity scene and 12 days of Christmas sculpture trail will be installed as normal.
If signed- off, the polemounted lights would be bought, meaning they would be added to the current festive lighting in the city, all of which will be put to use this year.
Committee convener, council co-leader Douglas Lumsden, said: “The key thing for us is the message ‘Christmas is not cancelled’, even though the market isn’t taking place. It will still be a time to try to celebrate as best we can.
“This light trail is to try to encourage people into the city centre to help businesses through what is a really difficult time for them.”
Planners looked at continuing the local traders’ market in the Marischal Quad, as has been hosted in recent years alongside the Christmas village.
But their investigations revealed it would only be able to open over eight weekend days due to existing safety measures enforced at the council’s nearby customer service centre in Marischal College.
The Bon Accord shopping centre has already announced it will host local traders as an indoor replacement for the Quad, while the Haan pop- up design will be at the art gallery from November 2729. Further moves to bolster visitor numbers will begin next month, as the council backs the expansion of the popular Aberdeen restaurant week to areas outside of the business improvement district area.
The council is paying £9,000 to fund the roll-out to areas, including Rosemount, Bieldside, Cove and Dyce.
Plans are also being drawn up for an Aberdeen gift card – devised by Aberdeen Inspired and Aberdeen Hospitality Together – for preloaded gift cards to be used at participating venues.