Will you join the fairy lights watch?

Tomorrow night will see the traditional fairy lights in the town illuminated for the festive season.

But the past few years have seen the lights in Friary Gardens being vandalised, so this year a ‘Friary Fairy Light Watch’ has been set up.

Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Police team, Safer Richmondshire Community Safety team and the Richmond Duck Club hope it will see an end to the damage caused to the display over the last few years and are urging everyone to be the eyes and ears of the display.

In a press release, the organisers say:

Local groups are being encouraged by the police to take part in the scheme which is based on the principles of a Neighbourhood Watch – but for a short term and a specific issue. Anyone passing the gardens is simply asked to keep an eye on the lights and report anything concerning or any damage they see – as soon as they see it – by calling the police on 101.

Work has been undertaken in and around Friary Gardens this year to reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour – and it is hoped that this additional scheme will help keep the lights safe and make sure that everyone coming to Richmond will be able to enjoy them.

“The Police are committed to regularly patrolling the Gardens and surrounding area while the lights are in place but we cannot be there 24 hours a day,” said Acting Sergeant Gary Treweek of the Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team.

“Through the hard work of the Richmond Duck Club the lights are a great attraction for residents and visitors -but for some they could be a focus to cause damage.

After the problems of 2014 many people in Richmond were angered by the damage caused – we want to put that passion for the lights into this proactive scheme.

“The Christmas spirit is about bringing people together and we want residents and visitors to come together to report what they see to keep this great tradition safe.

This is not about locals getting involved to stop anything happening, it is about reporting what they see – when they see it – to give us the best chance of being able to catch whoever may be responsible for any damage.

“Anyone damaging the lights or causing trouble over the Christmas period should be warned – actions have consequences so think twice.”

Three things to do in Richmond this weekend

Christmas events really start to kick off this weekend:

• On Friday – maybe it only seems like they’ve been up five minutes but it’s actually time the town centre shop window judges get started. Which is your favourite?
• The official start of the festivities with the lights switch on from 7pm in Friary Gardens….and if you’re going along, we’d love to share your pictures here. (email richmondnoticboardATgmail or add them to the Facebook group).
• On Saturday – there’s an all day Christmas market at the George and Dragon in Hudswell.

What are we missing? Here’s what we know’s happening in November plus the December events noticeboard is also shaping up here. Please do feel free to share details of any other events in town or nearby for free.

Have your say about keeping the street lights on

Local people are being asked to give their opinion on keeping the street lights on across the district.

Along with other town and parishes councils across Richmondshire, public representations to Richmond Town Council will help decide if street lights are to be switched off during night time hours.

Richmondshire District councillors have already opted out of a countywide scheme to limit the hours that towns and villages are lit but now local residents and businesses are also being encouraged to have their say by telling their local parish representatives what they think.

If you’re not sure who your local representative is, in Richmond their phone numbers are all listed here – http://www.richmondtowncouncil.org.uk/councillors.htm.

Or you could contact the town clerk Heather Lawler by email townclerkATrichmondtowncouncil.org.uk.

The county’s part night lighting scheme already sees certain lights switched off overnight to save money and energy emission and that will still apply in Richmondshire to lights operated by North Yorkshire County Council – unless there are strong community and highway safety reasons for a light to remain on.

All parishes will receive information on the review over the coming days – with their responses needed by 30 April 2014.

We will also pass on any comments left below.

Most viewed in Dec and Jan: The lights go out for Castle Walk

The floodlights which illuminate Richmond Castle and help keep one of the town’s best used pathways as a safe and pleasant place to be have now been switched off – and they’re likely to stay that way.

The lights have been lighting up the town’s main tourist attraction to dramatic effect but have now been vandalised to a point where the electricity supply has been isolated.

Not only does lack of lighting take away one of the town’s most impressive night views, but it also makes people walking around that area feel insecure, especially when, at this time of year, it is plunged into darkness around teatime.

The path and its seating areas are a well-known gathering point for youngsters and the amount of beer cans, bottles and other litter blowing down the bank towards the river has noticeably increased during the past couple of weeks – in fact, if it wasn’t for the actions of a couple of local residents prepared to brave the sharp drop and regularly collect rubbish, the scenic approach up to the Castle would now be awash with rubbish.

The lighting was originally provided with a grant from the now disbanded Richmond Swale Valley Community Initiative (RSVCI) in order to boost the economic potential of the town’s heritage.

But it seems the vandals will win the day. The upkeep of the pathway is the responsibility of North Yorkshire County Council which has no plan to re-instate the lighting.

It is believed that just five of the lights would cost £25,000 to replace. Not only is there no budget but, without some sort of security in place to ensure they weren’t ripped out a second time, there’s no will to replace them either.

What do you think should be done? Have your say in the comments below and we’ll look into this some more in the new year.