RESIDENTS in Bowes took to their doorsteps to celebrate the switch-on of the village lights.
Due to the lockdown restrictions, villagers were unable to congregate for the ceremony, so organisers urged as many people as possible to cheer, clap, bang pots and pans and make as much noise as they could.
It was also a chance to see the next phase of additional festoon lighting in Low Road and The Wynd, along with new copper effect illuminations in the churchyard trees.
Aidan Marmont was on hand to push the plunger and light up the whole village and the living Christmas tree outside the village hall on Saturday, November 28.
Aidan was asked to do the honours in recognition of his fundraising efforts this year for various NHS causes.
Bowes Lights treasurer Lynn Todhunter said the committee was only formed in 2018 and in the last couple of years villagers have had much fundraising cash by holding coffee mornings, a race night, Play Your Cards Right evening, wine tasting and gin tasting nights and Graham’s Gallery.
“This year’s fundraising has been limited to the ongoing successful Bowes Lights number draw and generous donations,” he said.
“The committee would like to thank everyone for their continued support and especially the dedicated enthusiasts who co-ordinate and erect the festoon lighting each year and bring festive cheer to our close-knit community.”
![A COUNTY councillor is backing a campaign to get a pedestrian crossing in Staindrop. Frustrated parish councillors in the village summoned their county council representative Cllr George Richardson to their latest meeting to discuss several issues, including the call for a safe way to cross the A688. Earlier this year their request for a crossing was turned down by the county council’s highways officers. Parish council chairman Jonothan Raper described the reasons for the refusal as “spurious” and called on Cllr Richardson to support their campaign. He added: “One of the arguments they made was there is no clear line of desire when they studied the village – well this isn’t a clear line of desire because there isn’t a crossing, people cross whenever they can. “When the lollipop person was there, one of the things I noticed was people would walk all the way down to the lollipop person to cross the road to go to the shop or to go to the school.” He added a problem of parking at the primary school is exacerbated because people are too afraid to walk their children across the road. Cllr Richardson said he had supported previous attempts for a crossing point with the first being made about 15 years ago. He added: “We went fairly well down the road with that and they looked into it. The only recommended place was where the bus stop is and to get the visibility splays, people on the other side of the road would lose their parking. “That didn’t go down well so it just died a death.” Cllr Raper said he suspected the real reason for the officers’ refusal was the cost of installing a crossing. He added that much of the cost could be recovered from savings made on not having to employ a lollipop patrol. Cllr Raper said: “A lollipop person only provides a benefit of crossing for three hours of the day. You are getting 21 extra hours of crossing time [with a pedestrian crossing].” Cllr Richardson said he would raise the issue with the county council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr John Shuttleworth.](https://teesdalemercury.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/georgeR-120x86.jpg)
