New lights to offer festive cheer for Stirling as part of £25k expansion
by Stuart McFarlane, https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/authors/stuart-mcfarlane/ · Daily RecordGet the latest Daily Record breaking news on WhatsApp
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There is some extra festive sparkle lighting up the streets of Stirling this year after the city’s illuminations were extended for 2024.
The expansion has been funded courtesy of an investment by Go Forth BID of more than £25,000 to provide extra winter lights for some of Stirling’s main business streets - including Murray Place, Friars Street and Barnton Street.
The business group’s board approved the extra spending for the three streets - which have now been lit up with bespoke chandeliers to offer locals and visitors the chance to bask in some extra festive cheer.
It’s part of a plan unveiled two years ago for the city’s Christmas lights offering, with chandeliers and thistles adorning Port Street, Murray Place and Dumbarton Road while King Street hosts a series of silver and gold crowns.
Go Forth Stirling project director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “We first looked at revamping Stirling’s festive lights, in partnership with Stirling Council, in 2022 when a working group spent time creating innovative, bespoke designs to improve the look of the city centre.
“The vision was to capture the city’s history and heritage and reflect how its main streets looked in years gone by with traditional Christmas lighting.
“Together with the council, we initially focused on key streets, including King Street and Port Street, and are now gradually increasing the motif displays to cover more of the city centre.
“The three new chandeliers - across Murray Place near the Arcade, the start of Barnton Street and the bottom of Friars Street - have already made a significant impact in lighting up an area which is a real gateway to the city.
“This is a significant investment from the BID which will encourage people into the city centre to support local businesses and meet up with family and friends over the festive season and into 2025.”
The full display also features a canopy of lights at Goosecroft Road, cross-street lighting above Friars Street, Barnton Street and Upper Craigs and trees festooned with lights in areas such as Allan Park, Murray Place, Friars Street and Broad Street.
Following the ideas process being finalised, the BID worked with lightways contractors on the project and commissioned ARRO Lighting and Events to design and create the bespoke installations.
Aaron Andrews, creative director of ARRO Lighting, said: “We always embrace the opportunity to design and produce unique one-of-a-kind motifs.
“The city’s environment, heritage and culture were taken into consideration when designing the new lights and as a result belong to Stirling.”
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