Now the Festive Season is over and the Christmas Lights back in storage arrangements are being made for their re-appearance at Christmas 1998 but already there are difficulties which suggest that the High Street will be without its coloured lights this year. Bye -laws originating from Essex County Council, which although not mandatory it is advisable to observe, require permanent fixings and a catenary wire to support the festoon cable down each side of the High Street. These bye-laws and the unsatisfactory condition of the cable was the reason given by two contractors not to tender for the task of installing the lights last Christmas.
In the beginning the cable was bought by traders and businesses on the High Street and arrangements for the installation were made by the Billericay Chamber of Trade however when support for the organisation dwindled so did that for the lights and for a period of two or three years Christmas was celebrated in comparative gloom. Following suggestions from our members the Residents' Association decided in 1989 that there would be decorative lights at Christmas and asked Eastern Electricity to provide a quote for fixing about 1200 metres of festoon cable to each side of the High Street and connecting to the power supplies. In the meantime the Association collected money to cover the cost of installation from the traders and businesses as before, unfortunately the quote of £14,000 was far in excess of the amount of money collected consequently it was decided not to proceed with the scheme and the money was returned to the donors. An explanation was published in The Resident following which Eastern Electricity said that as a gesture of goodwill they would do the work for the money we had collected, an offer we accepted.
For the next five years Eastern Electricity installed the lights, during this time the Association bought more cable bringing the total length to 1500 metres and also arranged with businesses and organisations in the town to sponsor motifs of which there are now fifteen. Whilst the cost of the motifs was borne by the sponsor the Association bought the control and safety equipment necessary to meet the bye-laws and also agreed to maintain the motifs for five years. In 1995 Eastern Electricity considerably increased their quote so much so that it was decided to seek another contractor to carry out the work. We sought tenders from several firms and chose that provided by a company located in Bowers Gifford, we had sought references from councils who had employed this firm to provide their Christmas decorations and were suitably impressed. WRONG. It was a disaster. After taking the cable away for electrical and mechanical tests he disappeared and could not be contacted, a visit to his house provided no answer to his whereabouts. Eventually some of the cable was found dumped behind offices on the High Street. We contacted some of the towns where the firm was supposed to be installing decorative lights for Christmas only to find they had similar problems. PANIC. However in spite of the problems the lights were eventually erected but not satisfactorily. Every night during the festive period I had to reset the protective devices which had tripped causing inconvenience to those businesses that had donated electricity and me a great deal of hassle. For most of the time the contractor did not answer calls for help and eventually a solicitor's letter was sent to the firm advising them their services were no longer required and another firm was hired to take the lights down at the end of the festive period. The man was none too pleased when I refused to settle his bill in full.
Having suffered at the hands of a small business it was decided in 1996 to use one of the largest firms in Essex, the one who had taken down the lights the previous year. Unfortunately we fared no better. Lack of space prevents a detailed description of the problems we experienced, suffice it to say that eleven motifs were damaged by the firm and had to be replaced and once again we disputed the bill presented by the contractor. Last Christmas, 1997, we used yet another recommended contractor and although the result is not completely satisfactory there has been some improvement.
So, what of the future? Well the first lesson to be learnt is "You get what you pay for" and it is now necessary to use firms who specialise in providing and erecting decorative lighting. Also it advisable to provide catenary wires to support the festoon cable and the cable itself needs to be repaired and made good since some of it is over 12 years old. Two quotes have been received which suggest that the cost could be of the order of £12,000 to provide a satisfactory installation, a cost we will find difficult to meet. The Association has spent in excess of £4000 in providing new cable, new garland for The Walk and Holly Court, 26 control and safety devices and in making up the deficit between the amount of money collected and the cost of installation. We cannot continue. It is now up to other organisations in the town to make substantial contributions to the cost of providing the decorative lights next Christmas otherwise there is a strong possibility there will be no display for the Fun Night. Last year we collected about £4500 and we give our thanks to the businesses listed below and to those people who made individual donations:
Help is needed to maintain the environment of the Mill Meadows Nature Reserve in Greens Farm Lane. The District Council needs willing volunteers to join working parties.
Volunteers should come with suitable clothing including boots and gloves, but all necessary tools will be provided. Just turn up at 10.00am Sunday 8 March at the Scout Hall, Greens Farm Lane and put in about 2 hours work.
An association of those interested in the care and education of children aged up to 8 years in Billericay. Membership includes all schools, pre-schools, nurseries, child minders, toddler groups, parents and other agencies in the town. Members meet termly to hear about and discuss current issues and are increasingly involved in a variety of projects - look out for further details! Our next open meeting is on Tuesday 17 March at 7.30pm when Jo Goodall takes a look at children's Personal and Social Development. For information and to book a place ring 653778.
SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY - QUIZ NIGHT at LITTLE BURSTEAD VILLAGE HALL. Tickets cost £6 per head and include a Fish and Chip Supper.
The ROTARY CLUB of BILLERICAY MAYFLOWER presents a charity evening at the BRENTWOOD CENTRE on SATURDAY 4 April 1998 at 7.30pm. The programme will be introduced by Dame Peggy Spencer MBE.
Featuring: The Howard Wallace Chorale, The Billericay Operatic Society, The Billericay School Studio Orchestra.
The Childrens Charities Which Will Benefit Are: Cushions Childrens Cancer Charity, Little Havens Childrens Hospice, Hamelin HouseTrust
Tickets £7.50, Senior Citizens and Children under 14 years £5.00. Available from Classic Menswear, Peter Murray Insurance, Picturesque and Webbers Wine Bar.
Announce a GALA CONCERT to be held at the CIVIC THEATRE, CHELMSFORD on SATURDAY 28 MARCH at 7.30pm. The programme will feature the Chorale and soloists in a selection of well known music in the full choral tradition of the Howard Wallace Chorale.
Tickets cost - Gallery £7.50, Stalls £7.00 and can be obtained from Mrs E. Williams, 45 Ayr Way, Rise Park, Romford.
The Billericay Emergency Disabled Equipment Service received a very generous donation from Mr John Taylor of Chandlers Close, Rose Lane, Billericay which will no doubt help the organisation continue to provide a much used service to the disabled. Mr Jim Shields, who this year won the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower award "Citizen of the Year" for service to the community, was highly delighted with the gift.
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