A campaign to brighten Peterhead’s streets this Christmas is approaching its final fundraising target.
Around £15,000 is required to install festive lighting throughout the town – a total that is now well within sight of the Light Up Peterhead committee.
The cause has already been granted £10,000 from the Your Voice Your Choice community funding scheme, alongside a further £1,000 from the Asda Foundation.
In addition, volunteers have been bag packing at supermarkets as well as hosting a bingo night and raffle to raise hundreds of pounds more.
Phyllis Mundie, Light Up Peterhead chair, said: “The local community here is very good at helping – even if it’s just a pound here and a pound there, it all adds up.
“Business have been struggling a bit in the town but they all help out where they can too.”
The group has 12 cross-street light features from last year that can be re-used as well as 20 lamp post decorations.
Three more cross-street lights have already been purchased for this year, for a total of around £9,000, which will be stretched across Queen Street.
Mrs Mundie said: “It costs around £6,000 every year just to maintain, store and erect the decorations we already have.
“They need refurbished a lot as they are so exposed to the elements.”
The seven-strong Light Up Peterhead team formed last year, amid fears that the town would be lacking in Christmas cheer because of the cost of upkeep for the lights.
Mrs Mundie added: “It was so well supported last year so we decided to try again.
“The lights will help to improve things for the businesses here and draw more people into the town.
“I’m hoping for lots of compliments on the lighting and I think the tree will be a spectacle.
“I really hope people will appreciate how much work has gone into getting some new lights and putting on the switch-on event in the town, and just making Peterhead a really festive place.”
The official Christmas light switch on will be held on Saturday, November 25, at Drummers Corner from 1pm.
