Your councillors have underlined their promise to commit their funds to Christmas lights in Carshalton for at least the next two years.

Carshalton Village, which previously soldiered on in darkness during the Christmas months, finally has its own bit of festive sparkle.  Council officers, working with Transport for London and the traders association, installed new Christmas lights from the Carshalton Ponds to the new Westcroft Leisure centre entrance. It is hoped the lights will increase footfall and boost local businesses in the area. A crowd of delighted residents attended the official light switch on at 6pm on Friday 30 November 2012. The lights were set-up ahead of the Carshalton Frost Fair, held on the following day, and will remain in place until January 2013. Cllr. Jill Whitehead, Chair of Environment and Neighbourhood Committee and a councillor for Carshalton Central ward said: “This year’s light switch on was a fantastic success and we are delighted to continue supporting the celebrations for the next two years. Christmas lights are an important part of the festive season and Carshalton deserves the chance to get involved too.”

Chairman of Carshalton & Clockhouse Local Committee Hamish Pollock said: “The decision to bring light to Carshalton was unanimously agreed at a local committee meeting in April earlier this year in answer to requests that Christmas lights be funded using money from the public realm. The requests, supported by ward councillors, came from the traders association, and a number of residents’ groups.”