Council responds to Christmas Events feedback

Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council has responded over criticism of the location of it's Kicking off Christmas events.

The statement comes as local people have taken to social media to demand the return of the event to Broad Street or High Street.

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• Merry Christmas from us all!

However, the Council has clarified why it was originally moved from these locations.

In a statement, a spokesperson said:

"We note that people have raised questions about why the Kicking off Christmas event relocated to the Town Hall grounds and we have looked to cover the reasons below with some historical information."

"In 2020, faced with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, we made the decision to host the event online only and there was no event held in the town centre."

"Subsequently, in 2021, the collaboration with Alliance Theatre brought about the light show which was projected onto the town hall building, prompting the relocation of the event to the town hall lawns for the event space. Coupled with the social distancing and Covid requirements still in circulation during this time it was deemed a more suitable location."

"Building on from the previous years, 2022 saw collaboration with the Carnival Committee. Bringing forward their vision of the illuminated bike parade and a winter village themed event."

"Once again choosing the town hall lawns as the preferred venue, as it allowed the bike parade to follow through the town centre, and the winter yurt village to be created on the town hall grounds."

"In 2023, amendments were made to the venue layout on the town hall grounds in direct response to the feedback received from our community. We appreciate that visibility of lights still remained an issue which prompted the post-event feedback form to gather your opinions and insights of the overall event. It felt a timely opportunity to review the event format following a few years of relocation to the Town Hall grounds."

The Council have now said that the lead councillors for the event will consider all the feedback recieved.