Covid continues to cast shadow over festive lights plans for Dingwall
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THE countdown to Christmas will look different in Ross-shire's county town again this year as Covid continues to cast its long shadow.
Plans for a set-piece Christmas lights switch-on – a traditional staple of the local calendar – have been put on hold in Dingwall amid concerns about the impact of large crowds gathering.
While the heart-warming glow of the town's festive lights will offer a beacon of hope for brighter times ahead, Dingwall Community Council has reached the conclusion that it would be irresponsible to encourage a mass gathering given current guidelines.
The community council has paid for the insurance and repair of lights since Highland Council agreed the celebrations in the region's towns and villages should be taken on by residents.
Community councillor Andrew MacIvor, who was charged by the community council to purchase new decorations, said: "Should we just have a small event with Santa and Mrs Claus and a few specially invited guests?"
Cllr Angela MacLean (Dingwall and Seaforth) ward, suggested it could be shared on the community council Facebook page.
Fellow member Nigel Greenwood though said: "We have a fund for Christmas lights, but we need to consider the danger with sharing an event on Facebook because of the numbers of people who may come along. If we give a date for the switch on if then people will want to come."
Community council chairman Jack Shepherd agreed: "I am quite happy for the Christmas lights to go ahead, and to quote Taylor Swift 'the haters are going to hate' when we do not have a lights switch on.
"But as soon as we invite people, more people will join. Before you now it we will have 300 or 400 people in the street. And while we didn't plan it, we will have a large gathering in the town centre.
"The moment you offer a date for the lights to be switched on, with such a key event then people will want to gather.I do not think that we could even risk assess the event, and we certainly would need to have insurance to cover us for the event."
