Revive & Thrive and Blachere Illumination were delighted when the judging process of the Christmas Light Competition identified Salisbury as one of the towns short-listed to attend the final in Fitzrovia. Like the rest of the UK, we watched aghast at the unfolding developments in Salisbury and were only relieved that the three people involved, survived. Once the dust started to settle the media turned to discussing how the town centre had been affected and we found this interesting.
Watching the news articles, it was apparent that some businesses had been hit very hard and not just due to fears about the event but also due to how the police investigation had affected how people travelled around the town centre. Footfall was drastically altered creating a devastating negative impact for otherwise prosperous businesses.
I was struck and pleased by the fact that the town centre took such a priority for the media. It made me reflect on whether other local disasters or major incidents in town centres had followed up with such coverage. Currently, the high street is in the press with as much profile as it had 10 years ago when Woolworths closed and the news that is being shared is just as depressing. As was the event in Salisbury.
However, despite the reducing retail offer that 90% of town and city centres are experiencing, our love and concern for our high streets remain so intense that BBC, ITV and Sky are discussing with almost the same gravity as President Trump meeting Kim Jong-un. Whilst this is positive, the story and the outlook haven’t changed much in 10 years and whilst they are talking and we are listening, the future for compelling retail in town centres looks as bleak as ever.
Anyway, this was meant to be an article about Salisbury being a finalist in the Blachere Annual Christmas Light Competition. We wish them well (we wish all the finalists well – without fear or favour) and whether Salisbury wins £1,000, £2,000 or £10,000 worth of lights, Blachere Illuminations and Revive & Thrive are pleased to be able to play a tiny part in the town’s bright future and recovery.
Ronnie Brown, Blachere UK
Competition update page: Win 10,000 Christmas Lights