Congleton's town centre looks set to be even more attractive and welcoming this Christmas as councillors recommend the purchase of additional lights to bring that added festive magic to the town.

For the past eight years the surplus funds from the budget used to store, repair, install, test and remove lights has been placed into Congleton Town Council's ear-marked reserve for Christmas lights, to build up their reserves for repairs or replacing lights.

There is £10,000 in this budget and the Christmas working group requested that the town council's Community and Environment Committee recommended to full council that this funding is used to enhance through the purchase of the additional lights, four areas within the town centre.

Speaking at Thursday's Community and Environment Committee meeting, Jackie MacArthur, deputy chief officer and town marketing and events manager, said in a report: "The review of the lights and the benefit of creating a more attractive and welcoming town centre for this Christmas is considered even more important this year to encourage more local people to support their local town at Christmas."

Congleton Town Council invested in the bulk of its current Christmas lights in 2013. Over the years these lights have been carefully stored and maintained and the town council would continue the cross-street banners and lamp-post lights.

Most large companies give an option to purchase lights outright or hire cross street banners and lamp post lights. The cost of renting for three years is slightly higher than purchasing outright.

The benefit of hire would be that after three years, town councils can completely change their lighting scheme as the town would have no ties - or ownership - of lights. The benefit to purchasing outright would be a saving to the public purse if the lights are robust and looked after. Congleton's current lights are going into season eight.

Following a review of the Christmas lights in 2019, the Congleton Christmas working group agreed to look into:

- Enhancing the lighting in the pedestrian area

- Introducing lighting in Victoria Street

- Enhancing Market Street as a gateway to the town centre

- Extend Christmas lighting into West Street area to benefit its economy

The Christmas working group has sought quotes from three companies specialising in Christmas lighting and are confident that it can achieve the four objectives above using the £10k in the ear-marked reserve for Christmas lights.

In a report submitted to the town council ahead of Thursday's meeting it stated about the pedestrian area: "The plain festoon lights in the pedestrian area started to fade and fail last year.

"The area also lacked some Christmas magic as the trees that were originally lit as part of the scheme were removed as part of the pedestrian refurbishment. The new trees were seen as too young to decorate."

The proposal for the pedestrian area was to introduce 350m of 700mm drop cool white icicles with a warm white rope star every 10m to zig zag the length of the pedestrian area and dress the four trees in the centre of the pedestrian area with three sets of lights per tree (300 lights) and 12v warm white LED lights per tree.

There would be an additional cost of loosely wrapping the trees – cost £100 per tree from the town council's contracted Christmas lights installer.

After looking at a number of options for Victoria Street, the working group have recommended introducing lamp post motifs to the street columns and have chosen moon and star columns that build on the theme throughout the town, and are in proportion for the narrow pedestrian route and a load that would be acceptable for the post.

There would be a one-off charge to convert the lamp posts so that they are able to use the electricity for the Christmas displays. This costs approximately £230 per lamp post and would be completed by Cheshire East Council's Highways team.

Rather than putting funds towards the temporary Christmas trees which are "largely hidden" along the Bridestones walkway, Congleton Town Council are discussing adding more "dramatic" lighting to the area using nine sets of 700mm drop cool white icicles with warm white plug in rope light stars.

The town council's report added: "This which will mirror the look in the pedestrian area. We are seeking the property owner's financial support for this lighting."

The group recommended changing the current light column display motifs in Market Street to give a new look to the area. The group recommended the purchase of four dancing star designs. These lamp posts are already converted ready to take Christmas lights, so it would only be the cost of the new motif.

The proposal for West Street would see the four Christmas lamp post motifs that were previously used in Market Street recycled and used in West Street. This would involve a further cost to convert the four lamp posts at a cost of £920.

Speaking on the proposals, Town Mayor Cllr Sally Ann Holland said: "I have always suggested that it would be great to see lights on all year round through the town centre, I think it makes it look a lot warmer, a lot more inviting and not as dark.

"Obviously these lights with stars on would not be appropriate all year round but I do think it is something in the future we should consider having some lights through the town that are permanent."

The Community and Environment Committee supported the Christmas working group's proposals to enhance the Christmas lights for 2020 and recommended that a paper goes to full council to approve the purchase of the additional Christmas lights.