Chance for a people’s festival

BERWICK Chamber of Commerce is embarking on something that could be bigger than anything that has happened in the commercial centre with plans to make Berwick a Christmas town.
The chamber of commerce wants to light up the town in a big way, particularly the High Street Boulevard.
When it became obvious that the once famous Edrington Park Drive Christmas lights festival had to be abandoned I suggested that the concept be transferred to High Street where it would not unduly impact on residential areas, but most people were dark on the idea.
I am happy that others who were not around in those days have come up with this same plan without any suggestions from me.
No doubt its primary role is to bring people into the shopping area, but it is also a way of providing a spectacular event for kids who love Christmas and all the tinsel and bright lights that go with it.
But we must not forget the real reason for Christmas and the birth of Christ, plus his teachings of goodwill to others.
Father Christmas is also symbolic of giving to children and the lights that go with Christmas are an extension of the twinkling star that the three wise men followed to Bethlehem. If this event follows the business plan put to the chamber of commerce then there will be opportunity for churches, community groups, and most of all people of all ages and beliefs to be involved in something wonderful.
Logic says the plan has to be introduced in stages, but I would like to see it extended to Wilson Botanic Park and the Bryn Mawr Bridge area. What a wonderful presentation of Christmas could be created across the park lakes.
With some lateral thinking the road around the lakes for the week of this festival could be opened to allow cars to drive slowly around the park and back on to the Princes Highway to go on through the lights of High Street.
My view is that within five years we would see 50,000 cars through the town for each festival. This would all have to be paid for so why not introduce a $5 fee on each car to go through the park. Traffic could traverse Wilson Botanic Park, go on through High Street, and then to Bryn Mawr Boulevard, over the bridge across the railway line, and leave along Kangan Drive with a minimum need for traffic controllers and barriers.
The council could highlight Bryn Mawr Bridge and Beaconhills College could be a blaze of lights to farewell visitors with a Merry Christmas message.
Those who wished would find somewhere to park and become involved in the High Street festival.
The business plan is to close High Street to traffic from 7pm to 9pm each night, but I strongly feel it would be better to leave the eastbound lane open.
Westbound traffic would be minimal and could be diverted.
This, “Lights of High Street Berwick”, is an exciting and ambitious plan but needs a strong strategy able to cope with many thousands of vehicles in a oneway only stream.
People would come time and again.