Matlock will still be lit up this festive season

Matlock Town Council’s income and has been significantly affected due to loss of hire fees from the Imperial Rooms which were closed from March until September and are closed again now due to the second lockdown.

Cancelling council run events has also had an impact on the income this year.

However, the council has taken the decision to go ahead with lighting up the town this year, using its reserves to do so, since it recognises how important Christmas lights are, not only to business owners, in bringing people into the town centre to shop, but also to the morale of residents and visitors to the town.

The lighting will be on a slightly reduced scale to previous years, but it is hoped it will still make an impact and provide some much needed festive cheer. There will be no official “switch on” event this year but lights will be on from the first week in December.

The large Christmas tree in Hall Leys Park will be provided as usual, and this year the council would like to thank Valley Lodge Care Home, part of the Ashmere family of Care Homes, for their generosity in sponsoring it.

The council is actively seeking sponsorship for the rest of the lights, so if this is something you are interested in, please contact Matlock Town Council by emailing [email protected].

Coun Steve Flitter, council leader, said: “It has been a very difficult year for the people and businesses in Matlock, and the pandemic has taken its toll on everyone’s mental health.

“We felt it was important to provide some festive cheer for the town and to encourage people to shop locally.

"Matlock has many wonderful, independent shops and businesses and we hope the lights will provide them with a boost this Christmas.”

David Poxton, director of Ashmere Derbyshire said: “We are very pleased to be able to sponsor the Christmas tree this year in Matlock to show our continued support to our wonderful community.

“We hope that the Christmas decorations in Matlock bring some joy to the community in what has been a very stressful year.”

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