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Wilton council selects vendor for 2026 Christmas lights trial, pledges community-led approach
Summary
Wilton Town Council agreed to trial a professional events company for the 2026 Christmas lights, selecting the preferred vendor (Company C) and delegating the town clerk to finalise scope within budget while pledging to preserve community traditions and run a post‑event review.
Wilton Town Council voted to trial a professional events company to organise the 2026 Christmas lights, selecting the council's preferred bidder (referred to in papers as Company C) and authorising the town clerk, in consultation with the project working group, to finalise the specification and contract negotiations.
The decision follows several public comments urging the council to protect the event’s community character. Marian Powell of Wilton Baptist Church told councillors she and other local groups had long organised the tree lighting and feared that a commercial contractor could displace volunteers and local traditions. “If the company can bring something to enhance what we already have and work with the community, then it would be most welcome,” Powell said.
Project‑group members and councillors discussed three proposals and the budgetary implications of the different packages. Council papers included a supplier proposal that would require the purchase of lights for the Market Square (listed in the proposal as £10,698 for those lights) while other elements would be provided on an annual hire basis. Councillors were told Company C offered a single management app and an emergency call‑out service, which the project group said would reduce the operational burden on volunteers.
Councillors agreed the trial should protect local involvement while reducing volunteer workload. “We don’t want the traditions to be lost,” one councillor said during debate, and the council resolved that the event should remain community‑centric even if delivered by a professional contractor. The council also instructed officers to pursue potential sponsorship if the trial proved successful.
The council approved the recommendation to select Company C and delegated authority to the town clerk and the project working group to develop the detailed scope, seek best value and return to full council if costs required further approval. A post‑event review after Christmas 2026 was added to help shape 2027 plans.
Next steps: the town clerk will finalise contract terms in consultation with the working group and report any requirement to exceed the council budget back to full council for approval.
