TEIGNMOUTH Town Council is reluctantly joining the ever-growing list of organisations cancelling Christmas events.

The town’s Christmas Lights Switch-on Event, with its Christmas market, musical and theatre entertainment, visit from Santa and themed Lantern Parade has had to be called off because of the difficulty of complying with COVID 19 restrictions in mounting these activities and ensuring the safety of the huge numbers of people that come to the Triangles to support the event and see the Christmas lights turned on.

Councillor Joan Atkins, who is co-ordinating the event, like last year, on behalf of the town council, said: ‘Because of the constantly changing restrictions and uncertainly about COVID 19’s development, we continued, optimistically, to plan the event, but it’s now clear that in order not to disappoint the children about Santa visiting nor to inconvenience performers, hirers of equipment, providers of services who are all associated with the successful delivery of the event, it is only fair and responsible to cancel the entertainment.

‘Restrictions willing, the Farmers’ Market will go ahead on that weekend as usual, socially distanced.

‘The Pavilions will still run its excellent weekend Craft Fayre unless lockdown is reimposed.’

On the bright side, no pun intended, the Christmas Lights and the tree will still be put up in the Triangle and switched on, as a lot of preparatory work has been carried out since last year to sort out electrical connections and effect repairs.

There will be no prior announcement, however, to avoid drawing a crowd that would not be socially distanced.

‘It is likely that the mayor will do a virtual Christmas message, to appear on the town council website, to mark the start of Christmas Shopping Month – so Shop Local – Stay Safe and support your local traders,’ said Cllr Atkins.

PICTURED: Teignmouth Town Council is reluctantly joining the ever-growing list of organisations cancelling Christmas events.

The town’s Christmas Lights Switch-on Event, with its Christmas market, musical and theatre entertainment, visit from Santa and themed Lantern Parade has had to be called off because of the difficulty of complying with COVID 19 restrictions in mounting these activities and ensuring the safety of the huge numbers of people that come to the Triangles to support the event and see the Christmas lights turned on.

Councillor Joan Atkins, who is co-ordinating the event, like last year, on behalf of the town council, said: ‘Because of the constantly changing restrictions and uncertainly about COVID 19’s development, we continued, optimistically, to plan the event, but it’s now clear that in order not to disappoint the children about Santa visiting nor to inconvenience performers, hirers of equipment, providers of services who are all associated with the successful delivery of the event, it is only fair and responsible to cancel the entertainment.

‘Restrictions willing, the Farmers’ Market will go ahead on that weekend as usual, socially distanced.

‘The Pavilions will still run its excellent weekend Craft Fayre unless lockdown is reimposed.’

On the bright side, no pun intended, the Christmas Lights and the tree will still be put up in the Triangle and switched on, as a lot of preparatory work has been carried out since last year to sort out electrical connections and effect repairs.

There will be no prior announcement, however, to avoid drawing a crowd that would not be socially distanced.

‘It is likely that the mayor will do a virtual Christmas message, to appear on the town council website, to mark the start of Christmas Shopping Month – so Shop Local – Stay Safe and support your local traders,’ said Cllr Atkins.

PICTURED: A scene from last year’s lighting up.