The Lights Go Out
So then, Walsall Illuminations is no more, and it’s permanent.
[edit]
No it isn’t. Christ, they can’t even get their publicity straight.
Council leisure chief Barry Sanders said today the lights would be sold off and the proceeds used to improve the Arboretum.
or
“Let’s be absolutely clear on this – Walsall Illuminations are not being scrapped,” said Councillor Bird.
It’s very true that it did make a loss in recent years (I’ll come back to that in a moment), but it did al least give Walsall something that all the other towns in the conurbation didn’t have, and raise awareness of the Arboretum (which really is a rather nice place).
Anyway. On to the loss of money. The real losses started when Walsall MBC chucked a pile of cash the way of some consultants (PDF). Read the recommendations for a giggle: it’s full of the usual halfwitted marketing bollocks from a bunch of, well, halfwits.
Walsall Illuminations was always the same thing: For the kids it’s a bit of ‘Oooh shiny’, a few tame fairground rides and their TV characters, for the adults it’s a nice walk around a park with some nice decorations.
What can’t have helped was the way people were actively being turned away on the last night one year (after not publicising the earlier closure). We managed to persuade them to let my sister-in-law and niece in with our pre-paid tickets, and we went to the pub, and a load of other people drove off pissed off, which is a shame. Clearly we (council tax payers in Walsall) cannot subsidise the old Illuminations to the tune of £200k, but would we have to, if Walsall MBC hadn’t managed to cock it up so well?
Anyway, the plan is that after the planned work in the Arboretum, parts of it will be lit in Autumn, Winter & Spring, which may well be nice, but I strongly doubt that will bring anyone in from outside the town, which is a shame. Walsall doesn’t have much to attract anyone in to the borough, and now has one less thing.
Black Country Kid‘s comments.
January 16th, 2010 at 21:34
Yes. Walsall broke the illuminations because they had a washout one year (bad weather), decided what was needed was consultants, who royally fucked it up.
If there’s no market for illuminations anymore, who are they planning to sell the kit to?
It’s yet another example of the current incumbents down at Darwall Street hating anything cultural or fun; axing organ recitals was another example of a cheese-paring bunch of idiots who spent fortunes on their chief executive, refurbing the I.T. in the chamber and assorted fluff but can’t support a charity protecting battered women.
Arseholes.
Best wishes
Bob
January 16th, 2010 at 21:35
That’s refurbing the I.T. in the chamber, sorry.
January 17th, 2010 at 10:09
Fixed your typo.
wasn’t aware of the organ recitals, as it’s not my thing, but I’ve often thought that much more could be made of the Town Hall. It’s a nice building with a lot of potential and is vastly under-used. Do it right and you could make some cash- look at the Civic & Wulfrun over in Wolverhampton.
January 17th, 2010 at 20:56
I’ve been to a few events at Walsall Town Hall and as you say a lot more could be done, especially on the music front. There are plenty of bands these that can fill the place and it would make a good change from always having to go to Wolves. Walsall seems to lack imagination or motivation on behalf of the Council. I’m glad I’m in South Staffs now as there are really pleasant to deal with and the services are reliable and good and sometimes free, as with Graham the Mouse-Man!
We’ve spent many an happy hour round the Illuminations and it always seemed busy to me. Why can’t people just do things for the sake of doing things rather than having to make money all the time? What sad times we live in. As you say, it gave Walsall something different.
Question is though – does anybody care enough to start a campaign to get them back?
January 17th, 2010 at 21:01
The other thing with the cost is did they count the full benefits, or just ticket sales?
It used to bring thousands to the town, spending cash on parking and in the shops, pubs, and restaurants. If the businesses thrive, the coucil makes cash from rates etc. If they close, it doesn’t.
As to the town hall, just look at the success of the beer festival. Get the right event and you can fill the place.