Banstead will get a touch of Christmas magic this December after a successful crowdfunding campaign raised enough to illuminate the village.
Members of the newly founded Banstead Business Guild and a crowdfunding page set up by the owner of a local jewellers shop raised the £3,000 needed to store, put up and maintain Christmas lights in the village this year.
From October: Banstead businesses come together to light up village and raise Christmas cheer
In recent years the money has been raised by a shop owner with the support of Banstead Village Residents' Association after a communal pot - titled ‘Let There Be Light’ - set up in 1999 ran dry.
Jon Tabard, owner of JT Snuggs Jewellers in Banstead High Street, is the holder of the account.
He set up a Justgiving page as part of the Guild’s efforts to raise the £3,000 needed to light up Banstead this Christmas.
With more than £1,000 has been donated through the website, and money donated by local businesses, the target has been reached.
Mr Tabard said: "You think of the alternative - to just have normal lights without the Christmas lights on - it doesn’t feel very Christmassy.
"This will help to promote Banstead and make it look festive.
"Times are hard and it is quite good to have got money towards this.
"I hope it will attract more people to Banstead this Christmas - that is what we’re trying to achieve.
"The lights make such a difference, bringing a warm glow to the High Street in the dark wintery nights - and adding that touch of Christmas magic."
Chairman of the Guild and Reigate and Banstead borough council cabinet member for economy and jobs, Councillor Eddie Humphreys, said at the start of the project, causes such as this were why the Guild was set up.
He said: "It should not be down to one individual to fund it out of his pocket.
"The guild was not set up specifically to do that, but to create a networking community and bringing other businesses in and work locally as a forum for good ideas for the high street.
"Anything we raise should be for the benefit of the High Street, and this definitely would be for the people of Banstead village."
Banstead village's Christmas lights switch-on event will feature 50 Showchoir members and starts at 4pm on Saturday, December 5 in Banstead High Street.
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