Switch-on of lights affects shop's trade

Preparations for next year's switch-on of the Christmas lights in Oakengates could start a little later than normal after a newsagent in the town found the event a big turn-off for trade.

Baljit Singh Gill, who runs the Gill Brothers Premier shop in Oxford Street, said tape used to seal off the road to traffic before the big event on Friday was put up at 6.30am - a full 11 hours before the switch-on.

Mr Gill, known to his customers as Bobby, said: "They started putting the tape out between 6am and 6.30am to seal off our road.

"I asked them if they could wait until at least 8.30am to do it, but they couldn't.

"I don't know why they have to start preparing so early.

"I know people have stalls to set up and there are arrangements to be made, but I don't think they need 11 hours.

"As a newsagent, the early morning is my busiest period and I rely heavily on the trade between 6.30am and 9am."Parents are not prepared to park up away from my shop and then walk their children over to get sweets before they take them on to school.

"A lot of workers call in first thing to get a paper before starting at the office.

"Trade was a dead loss yesterday when they closed the road."

Councillor Alan Maddy, chairman of the social and events committee of Oakengates Town Council, which is responsible for the lights switch-on, said he sympathised with Mr Gill.

Councillor Maddy said: "It's possible we won't close Oxford Street until a little later next year.

"The trouble is, if we don't close the road soon enough then people park there, go off and their cars are blocked in afterwards, so we need to move before that happens.

"I will have a word with Mr Gill and see if we can't help him a little next year."

About 2,000 people turned out to watch the Christmas lights being switched on by Richard Calkin and Paul Squire, stars from the Oakengates pantomime Beauty and the Beast, on Friday. Mr Maddy said: "The lights look absolutely gorgeous."