Disappointment As Pitshanger 'Light Up Lane' Suffers Cutback

Plug gets pulled on popular traditional community event

There's huge disappointment in Pitshanger after the Community Association announced the traditional ' Light up The Lane' would not be going ahead this year.

The pre-Christmas event was started on a small scale over twenty years ago by local traders and in 2001 the Pitshanger Community Association ( PCA) became involved. The popular evening has grown and has attracted thousands of people; Pitshanger Lane is closed to traffic and lights turned on preparing the way for the festive season.

This week however the PCA revealed it was suffering financially and as a charity would not be able to run the event as it has previously.

The letter reads: ' In previous years, the cost of running the event has been met through a combination of sponsorship and donations from the traders on the lane. We have then been able to use the surplus raised on the night to meet our charitable aims.

''This year, due to unprecedented and very difficult financial circumstances, the traders and the PCA are finding it hard to meet the cost of hosting the event. As much as we might wish to, our charitable status does not allow us to use existing PCA funds to support any shortfall, which would be seen as subsidising trading organisations. Neither can we run an event simply on the basis that it is enjoyed by everyone in the community.''

They acknowledge the disappointment over the changes and say they have taken measures to ensure that a smaller event will still take place.

St Barnabas Church will host the stage show, the fund-raising BBQ and Christmas Raffle will take place and lights will still be turned on Sunday 26th November.

25th October 2017