Left in the dark: Sanderstead last night, where the Christmas lights switch on never happened
A crowd of hundreds of locals were left disappointed last night, when they turned out to see Sanderstead’s Christmas lights switched on… and nothing happened.
Thanks to the residents’ association and Rotary club, and with sponsorship from a local estate agents, this annual charity event had attracted families from around the area for a bit of early festive fun.
Father Christmas was there, albeit with his sleigh drawn by a posh-looking 4×4 (the reindeer had been given the night off).
According to one source, “In common with a lot of people in Sanderstead, and accompanied by my wife and daughter, we were looking forward to the Christmas lights being switched on,
Bright spot: Father Christmas arrived in Sanderstead on schedule, his sleigh pulled by a 4×4
“As has been the custom for a while, Paul Meakin estate agents and the Rotary club hosted a party, with some mince pies, mulled wine and Buck’s fizz.” There was even a church choir there to sing carols.
Father Christmas’s arrival signalled the start of the countdown for the much-anticipated big lights switch-on. Joined by more than a hundred others, Santa called out the numbers: “Three! Two! One!”
And then nothing happened.
“Then there was another countdown – and then nothing. And then the same thing happened again.”
According to the disappointed Sanderstead resident, “No one seemed to know quite what was happening.” They had all been left in the dark. Quite literally.
Branches of the Rotary club have been doing similar ceremonies around the borough in the past week or so, without a hitch. In Sanderstead, the Christmas lights were were supposed to be on a timer. Trouble was, someone at the council forgot to set it.
“Cue a lot of disappointed Sanderstead kids and parents gradually peeling off and going home,” said our source.
“So, yes, not the worst mistake anyone’s made at the council – but it doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, does it?”
The council’s press office is not open today, so no one was available to comment.
Or to apologise.
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it seems ridiculous to have to rely on the council for lights to be switched on rather than a local organisation or group.
Not ridiculous at all, Liz. The council is responsible for street lighting in the borough, and has control of the power to the street lights – which for obvious reasons needs to be handled carefully and responsibly. So any community lighting has to be done with the permission of the council, and access to their power network.
Croydon Conservatives cancelled Christmas
So that’s both Labour (Budget) and Conservatives cancelling Xmas this year.
Perry must be trying to clawback the overspend from the new Sanderstead Rec Path. Christmas lights don’t grow on trees you know.
This is the dog’s dinner part path refurbishment which stops when it gets to the real disaster areas of the circular path?
and I’ve heard Perry also goes by the name of Arthur Path. Dunno when they’re doing the part of the path that actually needs repair.
Cockup Croydon
Are Xmas lights in Selsdon this year? If so, are they switched on yet? Selsdon always used to have the advantage that its street lights are opposite each other so they can string Xmas lights across the road. Other places tend to have alternating lampposts so they only have (less impressive) lights on each lamppost, but not across the road.
It’s down to an incompetent officer. Not the councillors directly. Maybe the councillors will discipline the officer concerned.
There’s been plenty worse examples of council incompetence, Daniel, that have passed without any disciplinary action taken.
The article says it’s the fault of the council.
No mention of any councillors being involved at all.
Other than for very senior staff councillors aren’t involved in the disciplinary process for council staff.
But we don’t know the actual circumstances of the lights not working so perhaps wait for that before Madame Defarge gets her knitting out.