Events & Entertainment, Ferndown | Posted on November 22nd, 2024 | return to news
Frustration in Ferndown as Christmas traditions forced to change
Ferndown’s annual Christmas event and Christmas lights have had to move out of the town centre because the event organisers have been unable to reach an agreement with Tesco over the use of Penny's Walk.
For more than 10 years, Christmas in Ferndown has delighted the local community by featuring a Christmas market and a switch-on event for the Christmas Tree lights on Penny’s Walk. The event is organised by Ferndown and Parley Rotary CIO in conjunction with Ferndown Town Council.
The free public event was planned once again for Saturday 30 November, but with only a few weeks’ notice – and after promotional materials had been printed – the organisers announced that the event needed to be relocated.
Instead of Penny’s Walk, the event will now be held in Penny’s Lodge Car Park behind The Barrington Centre and Ferndown Day Centre.
The relocation decision came about after the managing agent for Penny’s Walk, working on behalf of Tesco in Ferndown, required the organisers to make significant changes and undertake precautionary work relating to the need to park vehicles on the paved areas of pedestrianised street.
A spokesperson for Tesco said: “We are always happy to work with the community on local events, and we are sorry that the organisers of the Ferndown Christmas event have decided they are no longer able to stage it at our site.”
Tesco added that the safety of customers and the local community using the stores in the precinct was its top priority, and that it hopes to welcome the event to Ferndown next year.
A spokesperson for Ferndown and Parley Rotary CIO said: “Unfortunately, we were not able to reach agreement with the managing agent for Penny’s Walk to stage the Christmas in Ferndown event. However, I would stress that Tesco in Ferndown is a strong supporter of our Rotary Club and have helped us with our fundraising for many years. We will be holding our Christmas charity collections at the store again in December.”
Then on Wednesday 20 November, Ferndown Town Council announced that the managing agent would not give permission for vehicles to use any part of the pedestrianised area, meaning it was unable to safely install Christmas decorations along much of Penny’s Walk. As a result, the council could not put Christmas lights onto the clocktower above the entrance to Penny’s Walk on Victoria Road, while the popular angel statue has been moved to outside The White Heather on Ringwood Road.
Ferndown Town Council said: “The council could not agree to the conditions which the managing agents were imposing for the use of vehicles in the precinct and so reluctantly we have made the decision to relocate some of the decorations this year.
“We hope to arrange a face-to-face meeting with the managing agents and land owner early in the New Year to address this and other concerns.
“The council is grateful to Dorset Council and local businesses who have helped us in finding suitable sites at very short notice for the decorations which have needed to be relocated.”
The decision to prevent two major traditions returning to Ferndown’s town centre has caused frustration among residents and businesses. Local business owner Stuart Fleetham said: “To see all the aggravation that has been caused by Tesco and the land agent preventing an established event for the last 15-odd years on the land, and now they’re not allowing the Christmas lights on the clocktower like they’ve done [in the past] which is a feature of the town. The people and businesses in Victoria Road love that, it’s a big focal point, and now they just have a few lights on lampposts and a tree.
“They’ve taken away a massive feature, which I think is disappointing.
“Several years back, Ferndown was in the press as the town which Christmas forgot, because nothing was done. At the moment, with things like this happening, its dangerously close to pushing itself back that way through no fault of its own. For an organisation to hamper local charities and businesses that are trying to do something nice for the community, it disappoints me.”
Christmas in Ferndown will take place in Penny’s Lodge Car Park on Saturday 30 November from 11am to 5pm, featuring a Christmas market, live music, a raffle, rides and amusements. Santa’s Grotto will be in the Barrington Centre as usual.
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