MEMBERS of Barnard Castle Christmas Lights got the festive season off to a sparkling start when the illuminations at Galgate greens were turned on.
A good crowd enjoyed and joined in the carols played and sung by members of St Mary’s Parish Church community orchestra and choir, while also tucking in to nibbles and refreshments from Andalucia.
The event was organised 24 hours before the town’s Christmas tree lights were switched on.
Jonathan Wallis, chairman of Barnard Castle Christmas Lights, thanked everyone for turning out and praised the effort and teamwork of the band of volunteers who make the illuminations possible along with all those who have supported the group’s work.
“Barnard Castle Christmas Lights is facilitated through a voluntary committee and we are always looking for ideas for improvements and additions.”
He added: “Christmas is a time for magic and hope. The Queen, in her 2020 Christmas speech mentioned that lights bring hope. I hope our Christmas lights bring that hope as well as festive warmth and comfort to townspeople and visitors alike.”
Mr Wallis then wished everyone a happy Christmas and flicked the switch to light up the trees.
![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)
