How lighting up for Christmas in Calderdale will continue but not with crowds

Business organisations were outlining some of their plans for the Christmas period under the circumstances to members of Calderdale Council’s Place Scrutiny Committee.

Chloe McNeill, of Halifax BID, said that in the town: “Some businesses might go onto late night shopping and extended opening hours, especially because of reduced capacity in shops – that will be really, really helpful for shoppers,” she said.

The BID wanted to to know when this would be starting so they could promote it to the public.

But big events where people gathered together would not be part of the programme, she said.

“There are no plans to do things physically.

“The Christmas lights switch-on and things like that will not be planned.

“But we will make sure Christmas lights are out there – we are getting permission for some new Christmas lights,and making sure the town is welcoming and inviting,” said Ms McNeill.

Manager of Woolshops, Halifax, shopping centre, Jason Gregg, also said plans were in place but without public gatherings.

“We will have Christmas lights but we won’t be doing any events because we cannot afford to have crowds gathering,” he said.

Mr Gregg said Marks and Spencer were planning to open from 6am to midnight in the last few days before Christmas Eve to enable shoppers to get through the door.

“They want to serve all customers but will be limiting customer capacity,” he said.

Queuing was an issue they were preparing for, said Mr Gregg.

“Normally we have 230,000 people a week in the weeks before Christmas – maintaining that is going to prove difficult,” he said.

Michelle Vease, of Brighouse BID, spoke similarly about public events in the town.

“The Christmas lights switch on, Halloween, we are not able to put anything on that attracts a crowd,” she said.