For this COGNEWS reporter, the story begins on a chilly November afternoon when a pair of town councillors clear out a heap of junk in the local council storage to reveal the town's Christmas lights. Councillor Ian Plant has been creating Christmas magic for Cheadle for nearly ten years. This began early in Ian's career as a councillor when, tired of the old, worn-out lights, he imagined something more beautiful for his hometown. It's challenging to get things approved through two councils, but Ian's patience and tenacity paid off, resulting in the beautiful lights you see today.
Preparing the lights for installation has turned into a tradition for Ian. This year, with the new bowling pavilion and other projects, the lights were somewhat buried. Each year, a team of electricians from Manchester visits Cheadle to ensure the lights are safe for installation. Then, on a big day in November, they move the lights to the town centre and install them using cherry pickers, testing every bracket to ensure they are also secure and won't fall on the public. Before all this, the town must obtain permission from the National Grid each year to install the lights.
As a result, our town mayor, Paulette Upton, was able to switch on the Christmas lights at precisely 5pm with the assistance of some well-known friends. You can admire the fully illuminated lights daily from 3pm to 10:30pm. We encourage you to visit our charming local shops and traders for Christmas gifts and essentials whenever possible. Each year, AA Silencers sponsors the Christmas trees and lights for the roundabout.
We are thankful to everyone involved in this significant event that truly helps Cheadle distinguish itself from other towns. Visitors can enjoy one of the most appealing drive-through spaces I've encountered.
The Magic Behind Cheadle's Enchanting Christmas Lights Display Revealed last updated 26.11.24
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