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West End Extra - by JAMIE WELHAM
Published: 27 November 2009
 
Style of street lights that could be on wayStyle of street lights that could be on way
Street gets Christmas lights after years of gloom

IT has the makings of a motion picture: big, bad high street chains refuse to pay for Christmas lights, sending expectant Tiny Tims all over St John’s Wood into raging tantrums, only for heroic neighbourhood champions to sleigh-ride in and save the day.
For the past five years while other areas have enjoyed the annual tradition of the festive lights switch-on, St John’s Wood High Street has cut a ­sorry sight, with residents having to press their noses against window displays to get a glug of festive cheer.
And until this week, it looked like the same old story after major retailers on the street such as Gap, Holland & Barrett and Boots refused to cough up any contributions.
But councillors from Abbey Road and Regent’s Park wards have this year decided to set aside more than £5,000 each from their annual £100,000 “ward budgets” for 29 Christmas tree lights to hang on lampposts along the St John’s Wood High Street and in Circus Road.
Conservative Abbey Ward councillor Lindsey Hall said: “The lights will be subtle – they will be similar to the ones in Little Venice. The High Street has been so miserable for so long – we wanted to give the local retailers a happy Christmas.”
A planning application has already been submitted to Westminster Council and, barring any objections, the lights will be switched on by December 5 or 6.
Jean Pierre Bruno, owner of Bruno Menswear, said: “We have been fighting this for five years. We would be absolutely delighted of they put the lighting up this year.”
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