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Town centre bosses join Christmas switch-on debate (From This is The West Country)
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Town centre bosses join Christmas switch-on debate
9:20am Thursday 19th November 2009
A SPECTACULAR firework display crowned a day of entertainment to mark the Taunton Christmas lights switch-on yesterday - but the events didn't please everyone.
The town centre was packed to watch Father Christmas, carnival royalty and special guests press the plunger to switch on this year's display.
The fireworks, launched from the roof of Debenhams, were the culmiunation of a day of entertainment staged in several locations around the town centre.
Attractions included concerts hosted by the Perfect 5th, dance displays, a Continental market, Taunton Vale Farmers' Market, the Blackdown Hills Market, stalls, refreshments, fairground rides and singing.
Children could also try a range of arts and crafts in ‘make-and-do’ tents, as well as juggling and plate spinning in the circus-skills workshop.
The town centre was also closed to traffic for the day.
Father Christmas led a procession from the Brewhouse Theatre to the town centre before a dazzling fire show by Cirque Bijou wowed the crowds on a specially-constructed stage around the the Burma memorial outside the Market House.
Your County Gazette promotions team was also there offering goodie bags to shoppers.
This year's Christmas lights switch-on day was boosted by sponsors orchard - formerly the Old Market Centre - which hosted a carousel and other attractions during the day.
But some visitors left disappointed with proceedings.
Readers of somersetcountygazette.co.uk have criticised the events, listing a number of problems including:
- A delay to the switch-on schedule
- Poor visibiliy of the main stage and the fire show
- Problems with the sound system from the main stage
- A scramble for the free carousel in orchard
- Complaints about Santa and the procession
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For a photo gallery, click on the Related Links below, and for a video news report, keep checking this website today. For a full round-up of events, don't miss Thursday's County Gazette.
Town centre bosses have hailed the event a success and have moved to address the complaints by visitors.
Here’s what town centre manager Graham Love said:
On the delay to the schedule: “It is clear there was some misinformation with regard to the events, particularly around the timing of the finale which was widely pre-promoted as taking place from 4-5pm.
“Work on the event build-up began around 6.30am and the finale concluded by 5.15pm. Those following the event programme will not have been disappointed.”
On the Burma Memorial: “We used a professional firm of scaffolders who put up the stage around the monument. The performers provided a comprehensive risk assessment for their activities and were adequately insured for the performance they gave.
“We worked closely with local authorities and the police on public safety and we ensured we left Taunton as we found it.
“Part of the switch-on is a celebration of life and community and it was a good use of a town centre space.
“It was exciting and vibrant and something different for Taunton.”
On limited visibility of the main stage and the fire show: “Where events are free, they are likely to be crowded and it is important to get there early to avoid disappointment.
“The platform for the fire show was at a height that the performers and authorities felt was acceptable.”
On sound problems: “If sound was an issue, there are ways that can be overcome but there’s a cost attached to that and we have to find significantly more budget to do more than we did this year.”
On Santa: “Santa was a character from When Santa Fell to Earth, playing at the Brewhouse – perhaps people need to get along and find out why he was tall, skinny and dressed in the colours he was.”
Meanwhile, Paul Blyth, of Kirkstone Real Estate, owners of orchard – formerly The Old Market Centre – said: “Many thousands came to take a look at the newly refurbished centre over the weekend and they were entertained by a variety of live music, children’s face-painting, a Punch and Judy show and other free attractions.
On queues at the free carousel: “The children’s carousel was a big success and operated smoothly all weekend. We experienced a particularly high volume of people towards the end of Sunday’s activities before the start of the parade. In response to this, the operator stopped the carousel whilst the centre’s management team brought out some safety barriers to make queuing more orderly.
On the centre closing time: “The centre closed at the normal time and people were still able to access the car park via other entrances. We are sorry if some people had a slightly longer walk back to their cars.”
Share your views on the day's event - join the debate by filling in the Your Say box on this page.
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Your Say YourWest Country
Taunton_chap, Taunton says...
10:33am Sun 15 Nov 09
When should they do ? It singles the start of late shopping.
Thomasjasonpaul aka victor meldrew 'I don't believe it'
souwesterly, Priorswood, Taunton says...
12:14pm Sun 15 Nov 09
Taunton_chap, Taunton says...
5:36pm Sun 15 Nov 09
All the artical should of stated the switch was going to be 2.5 hrs after the start of the entertainment.
Thanks gazette
Strawberry, Taunton says...
7:21pm Sun 15 Nov 09
nutpea, taunton says...
7:51pm Sun 15 Nov 09
Outraged of Oake, Oake says...
7:52am Mon 16 Nov 09
Stevewilliamtauk, Taunton says...
12:20pm Mon 16 Nov 09
POOR show Taunton Deane!
We went up town at 4pm to see the light switch on.
For some old reason the stage was facing Lloyds Bank ?? We were down the street and could not see anything, But to make things worse we could not hear anything.
Im sure during the day was good as i saw lots of market trade stands.
Kind Regards
The Disappointed Willimams Family
Bergers, Ilminster says...
1:13pm Mon 16 Nov 09
humbugging, taunton says...
2:02pm Mon 16 Nov 09
I headed into town with my two under-fives just after midday, found a FREE parking space near to the all the action and enjoyed walking the car-free streets. We picked up a pocket guide from one of the stalls, which helped us to plan our afternoon... I would have liked more time to wander around the market stalls and stages, but I was outvoted so we went to Orchard via the Creation Station tent and the circus skills tent. I'll admit that the face-painting lady in Orchard did look like she would have liked an assistant, but she was doing a great job and I was hard pushed to get my two to wash the works of art off their faces before bedtime.
By 4 o'clock we were stood near the barrier around the memorial in just the right spot for the fire-show, which was FANTASTIC. We were given a copy of the words to the carols, and enjoyed belting them out over the top of the disgruntled mumblings around us. We joined in the countdown, and the lights came on. Then the fireworks...they were GREAT, rounded the day off perfectly.
I was home in time to feed two very happy children some tea and get them to bed. When I finally opened my purse in the evening I realised I had spent nothing but time. I will however be heading back into Taunton to do my Christmas shopping because yesterday the businesses earned it. Thank you!
thomasjasonpaul, Taunton says...
6:42pm Mon 16 Nov 09
delboy11, taunton says...
7:18pm Mon 16 Nov 09
mg-lloyd, Taunton says...
8:36pm Mon 16 Nov 09
HillFamily, bridgwater says...
8:58pm Mon 16 Nov 09
somersetboy, taunton says...
10:44am Tue 17 Nov 09
nice man, taunton says...
2:53pm Tue 17 Nov 09
tamsinalicia, taunton says...
4:16pm Tue 17 Nov 09
humbugging, taunton says...
5:53pm Tue 17 Nov 09
The event was not rubbish, and the organisers had set aside time during the day for the good news of Christmas to be celebrated in a traditional manner with the singing of carols. There was also a spectacular celebration of light coming into a dark world... Isn't that the very essence of the Christmas story?
CHIRPY, taunton says...
7:21pm Tue 17 Nov 09
The event crew, stalls, bands worked extremely hard to please thousands of people and obviously we are not all going to agree.
I hope behond all the bad press that people did enjoy themselves like me and my family.
It could be worse, Taunton could have NO xmas light switch on!
somersetgirl29, taunton says...
8:58pm Tue 17 Nov 09
cegy22, Taunton says...
11:07pm Tue 17 Nov 09
I am all for change but where is the tradition too? Trading cadet forces from the usual sea cadets who would use their gun to signal the start of the festive season, to a few poorly turned out air cadets who could barely smile let alone march well.
The PA system that was used was so poor that the music was too loud and the vocals could not be heard. What was the point in the carols with this being the case? The song sheets handed out were crappy photocopies which showed no effort at all.
One thing that was said and heard was that people should stay where they were for the fireworks display, as this would be seen from every angle. So what was the point in moving the safety barriers and allowing people to stampeed forward? The guy trying to move ours got it stuck and the people pushing from behind caused the people at the front forward, the gate swung and I now have a lovely bruise on my leg where it hit me. Nice and safe Mr town manager!!!! I think not.
Finally although I agree that the fire starters dance thing was entertaining, the smaller children found it boring and after all it is mainly for the children, so not a wise choice, also setting the stage on the momorial, just days after poppies had been laid, very direspectful and very disrespectful setting up on the momorial anyway.
Oh and I thought I had finished, but blimey I had to explain to my very upset daughter that santa was obviously busy and had sent a very poor replacement. Santa = jolly fat man in white and red who smiles and talks to the children and rides his sleigh, not a tall skinny man dressed in red and black, who did not remove his hood, looked rather scary for a small child and brought a crappy cardboard raindeer. Oh dear is what I say. Poor effort all round. Only thing that was any good was eventual lights on and fire works.
reg G, taunton says...
11:25pm Tue 17 Nov 09
souwesterly, Priorswood, Taunton says...
9:31am Wed 18 Nov 09
Why on earth didn’t they split the occasion into two events, separated by a few weeks, which would have maximised the enjoyment and trading benefits.
……..
Turning on the lights – make that an adult entertainment evening…..presumab
ly to coincide with late night shopping. The lights themselves can be seen any time you come into town after dark….and perhaps they encourage shoppers into the town. I don’t think that children are as fascinated by various civic lighting as we might think they are.
……..
Father Christmas is for kids and should have been set up differently – and nearer Christmas. Surely he (a fat jolly cheerful man in a red and white outfit) could then arrive with his entourage and travel around quite a lot of the town – so that as many children as possible could have a chance to see him.
Perhaps that could run during the daytime – together with appropriate entertainment.
……..
It was an effort at putting everything into one basket (get it over with….?) which didn’t come off.
Maypole, Cotford St Luke says...
9:32am Wed 18 Nov 09
It was free just enjoy it STOP MOANING
bemusedman, says...
10:13am Wed 18 Nov 09
"It was free, stop moaning" - as if by some magical circumstance, everything 'free' is amazing and anyone who says otherwise is just miserable! ITV is 'free', but I'm still going to moan about it!
Yes this event was free, but that doesn't mean it had to be as crap as it was!!!
As for the moaning, that's all part of the Christmas experience in this country, I'm afraid.
nutpea, taunton says...
1:13pm Wed 18 Nov 09
Maypole, Cotford St Luke says...
1:27pm Wed 18 Nov 09
bemusedman, says...
1:51pm Wed 18 Nov 09
Having us moan at these people keeps them on their toes. The council has spent our taxes on a pretty poor event, we've every right to moan at them. You saying "at least the effort was there" is meaningless because, to the vast majority of people commenting here, the effort quite blatantly wasn't there!!! And yeah, I'll organise it next year-at least I won't be so stupid as to have people dancing on the war memorial barely a week after Remembrance Day!
Maypole, Cotford St Luke says...
2:36pm Wed 18 Nov 09
So as they say if you can't beat them join them, good luck next year!
L JOhns, Taunton says...
4:30pm Wed 18 Nov 09
Next year, can you miss out a couple of fireworks to save a few pounds and put father christmas in a horse and carriage in a proper red and white costume rather than a man in his brown dressing gown adjusting his beard as he walked through town!!!
My daughters were so dissapointed - Taunton is better than that.
Outraged of Oake, Oake says...
5:14pm Wed 18 Nov 09
nutpea, taunton says...
5:20pm Wed 18 Nov 09
buckley09, wellington says...
9:33am Thu 19 Nov 09
Taunton_chap, Taunton says...
10:03am Thu 19 Nov 09
The orchard failed in their duty of care towards children using the free carousel as I was there when the mayhem insued and my two year old was nearly trappled on by a very agressive women with her child. I would never hurt a child to get my child on a ride but there are people exist in taunton. We left for my daughters saftey and used the charged rides as they where being run safely.
bemusedman, says...
10:19am Thu 19 Nov 09
What a stupid, sly little dig at people! It's not like people were complaining about an extra 100 yard walk. People were complaining because they had buggies, shopping and small, tired children to somehow car up narrow, stinking flights of stairs because they'd closed the access to the lifts.
And the dancers on the war memorial wasn't an issue of "public safety". Are you honestly saying that at no point during your planing did someone just step back and say "Hold on, this might be a bit of an issue"? If not then you "town centre managers" need to take your heads out of your own backsides and have a good, hard look at yourselves!
Nonny Mouse, says...
11:18am Thu 19 Nov 09
nutpea, taunton says...
3:06pm Thu 19 Nov 09
Outraged of Oake, Oake says...
3:55pm Thu 19 Nov 09
bemusedman, says...
4:54pm Thu 19 Nov 09
Taunton_chap, Taunton says...
6:39pm Thu 19 Nov 09
The orchard have not apologised for the shambles carousel. The barriers must have been put up after my daughter was injured and we left digused, I shall now not be spending any money in the new orchard (What units are let anyway) as they have not even apologised.
Taunton_chap, Taunton says...
6:41pm Thu 19 Nov 09
somersetgirl29, taunton says...
6:41pm Thu 19 Nov 09
Taunton_chap, Taunton says...
10:03pm Thu 19 Nov 09
I agree my friend was in the same situation and was less than impressed. Luckily I didnt park at the 'pig ignorant market'.
Some people are so out of touch they dont realise its a nightmare with small children with all there kit and buggy/ies.
Why it was done on a sunday when the shops didnt open late I will never understand.
oxyheamaglobin, wellington says...
7:43am Fri 20 Nov 09
bemusedman, says...
9:18am Fri 20 Nov 09
And if you'd bothered to read the posts, instead of just wading in with your pointless comments, you'd realise what a complete berk you sound.
souwesterly, Priorswood, Taunton says...
10:19am Fri 20 Nov 09
You obviously weren't there so stop making useless comments that add nothing to the debate.
Don't tell me that you manage to meander through life without moaning about something.
Believe me, if you were there, (I was there, in case you're wondering....althoug
h I was too far away from the main event area to suffer the problems) you'd definitely have had good reason to moan.
SophiaMai, Taunton says...
10:52am Fri 20 Nov 09
Secondly, the parade! The adverts described a 'spectacular parade led by Santa!' It should have been advertised as 'a few people walking down the street including musicians who were not playing, some cadets who looked as though they'd rather not be there, father christmas and some panto actors mumbling away!'
Thirdly - Father Christmas!!!! Well I can only describe him as the grim reaper - who didn't even stop to talk to the children.
Fourthly, when those poor children were on stage singing their hearts out, not one word was heard by the audience who were more than 4/5 rows back!
And finally, after a slow walk back to the new 'Orchard' with two very tired and disappointed children we were faced with closed shutters and lifts and therefore had to lug 2 children and a pushchair up the stairs to level 4 as well as our shopping! Think we may be going somewhere else next year!
On another note the fireworks were great!!
A scene from the fire show
VIPs ready to push the plunger
Fireworks launched from Debenhams
Family fun at the switch-on
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thomasjasonpaul, Taunton says...
9:22am Sun 15 Nov 09