Lights fantastic: the Culsdon Christmas lights along Brighton Road have been switched on – despite the local Tory councillor

They said it couldn’t be done. Although, as “they” were Tory councillor Mario Creatura, aka the Coulsdon Grinch, nothing should be taken at face value.

But thanks to the generosity and ingenuity of a grouping of local businesses and residents’ associations, Coulsdon has its Christmas lights.

Paid for, installed and plugged in, the lights are now up to brighten up the Brighton Road through into the New Year. And, at the weekend, they even had their special Christmas Shopping evening, with many local firms coming together to offer special Shop Local offers, plus mulled wine, mince pies, and more.

Coulsdon Grinch: Tory councillor Mario Creatura

“So even though Yulefest was cancelled, in the last few days we have all come together to be able to offer this to the community,” Ashley Cooke, director of one of the businesses, Cozy Glow Candles, told Inside Croydon.

Cozy Glow Candles was among the donors and helped promote the new lights and move Coulsdon forward with a Shop Coulsdon Facebook and community social media pages.

Inside Croydon understands that among the businesses that have contributed towards the costs of Coulsdon’s Christmas lights are:

• Infohealth chemist
• Express Copy
• Pandora News
• The Light Bar
• Whitchers Financial
• Pristine Moments oven cleaning
• Admiral Minicabs
• Frames snooker club
  
• Puzzle Kitchens
• Precious Moments beauty salon, and
• Elearic property legal services

Read more: Let there be lights! Coulsdon traders defy Grinch Creatura

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