Merthyr Road was going to be unlit this December, but a local volunteer may have saved the day
CHRISTMAS lights look set to return to Whitchurch this December – despite worries that they would not be switched on in 2021.
The lights have been coordinated by Whitchurch-born Marc Palmer, a businessman and Labour Party council candidate based in Whitchurch & Tongwynlais.
He announced on Facebook that he had the lights in storage and was ready to test them and put them up.
We contacted Mr Palmer to ask when the lights would be switched on and how they are being funded, but we had not yet received a response at the time of publication.
Damian Harris, 49, owner of Damian Harris Cycles on Merthyr Road, said: “I’m really grateful that it’s all going ahead.
“Rhiwbina’s got lights, even Llandaff North has them – and we’re Whitchurch for God’s sake, so we should at least have some sort of lights!”
Until Mr Palmer’s announcement, there was little hope that the lights would be switched on this year. Local business owners had not received any indication that anybody had volunteered to organise them until Mr Palmer announced his involvement.
John McCarthy, 74, owner of the Cardiff Bed and Furniture Centre on Merthyr Road, noted after the announcement: “It’s very vague. I’m not holding my breath on anything.
“We’re only four or five weeks away from Christmas. If they’re going to do it, they’ve got to do it in the next week to make some sort of impact.”
However, there will not be an official event for switch-on of the lights this year.
Mr Harris explained the importance of these events: “A lot of people come to them from all over Cardiff. They bring their children and they see different shops. It’s important that people recognise the number of businesses in the village.”
Neighbouring Llandaff North is due to switch on its lights on Friday, November 26, at 4pm. The event will include a Christmas market and a visit from Father Christmas on his sleigh.
Tongwynlais will also host several festive events to accompany its lights. These lights are organised by Tongwynlais Community Council – including Cardiff Council’s Whitchurch & Tongwynlais councillors Linda Morgan and Mike Jones-Pritchard.
The offerings include concerts and a village fair. Father Christmas will also be visiting on Monday, November 29 and Tuesday, November 30.
Whitchurch’s lights had previously been organised by the Whitchurch Community and Traders’ Association until 2015, when they were taken over by Tom Champ of Tom’s Trees with the help of local businesses.
Mr Palmer announced the return of the lights in a Facebook post signed “Marc & Tom,” appearing to indicate Mr Champ’s continued involvement.
In the post, Mr Palmer said that a group could form to organise the lights in future years.
Many local business owners support this but some have their reservations.
Mr Harris said that his business would donate, but also said: “We’ve got four or five pubs on this street alone. We’ve got Iceland and the Co-op. They benefit because they’re open on the day of a switch-on and they take money.
“They should contribute more. We should never have had this hassle.
“Unfortunately, it’s the small businesses trying to get the bigger businesses to keep this village alive and get more people to it.”
Councillor Mike Phillips said: “There has been a changeover of business ownership in the village over the past few years and some of the newer businesses are keen to reinvigorate their contribution to the village and the lights.
“We fully support them and will help them in our roles as councillors.”
