Christmas could be cancelled in Coventry with 'virtual' lights switch-on likely

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Other councils have already announced the move



Coventry is likely to have a virtual Christmas lights switch-on this year due to the coronavirus, the councillor in charge of events has admitted.

Thousands of people usually flock to Coventry city centre at the end of November to enjoy the festivities and watch the lights being turned on.

A number of authorities have already made the decision to cancel Christmas lights events with Covid-19 rules preventing mass gatherings.

Warwick District Council is among them, announcing a district-wide virtual switch-on last week which allows residents to watch the spectacle from the safety of their own home.

No decision has yet to be confirmed by Coventry City Council but the cabinet member in charge of events has said it is likely to have to be virtual.

That move may have been made more likely by yesterday's announcement of further Covid-19 restrictions which Boris Johnson said could last a further six months.

Cllr Abdul Khan, cabinet member for events at Coventry council, said: “Planning is underway and we are looking at what we can do.

“The likelihood is it is something that will be done virtually.

“A couple of weeks ago we could have done an event in the open air but now with the change in severity I think we would have to change.

“What we are not going to do is encourage people to come to the city centre knowing there is a greater risk.

“We want to keep things as normal as we can but the reality is we will have to change things significantly to make sure we are not encouraging people to break the rules.”

A council spokesman added: “In a continually changing situation, we are monitoring government guidance and keeping all public events under review, including arrangements for Christmas.”

Bonfire night on November 5 could also be impacted by coronavirus restrictions on gatherings.

Cllr Khan said added: “The council does not have any bonfire events but any event that is not our event they will have to satisfy us that the things being done are in accordance to whatever guidance is at the time.

“That will have to be agreed by our safety advisory group.

“Cases are rising significantly and we do not want Coventry to be an outrider in terms of cases.”

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No ‘digital’ plans for Coventry's Christmas lights switch-on 2020 as event is scrapped



Coventry’s annual Christmas lights switch-on event has been officially scrapped due to Covid-19, it has been confirmed.

The decision to pull the event was always likely due to the restrictions on gatherings but has not been confirmed by the city council until today (Thursday, October 19).

Lights will be slowly turned on without fanfare over the next couple of weeks.

Deputy leader Cllr Abdul Khan, who is the cabinet member for events, has previously said there could be a ‘virtual’ element to allow residents to watch the switch-on from their own homes.

Other authorities such as neighbouring Warwick District Council have put plans in place for a live Facebook and YouTube stream, however Coventry City Council is not planning a digital event on it’s online channels.

Cllr Khan said: “With the current lockdown and the government restrictions in place, we can confirm that unfortunately the city will not be hosting a large, public switch on event in the city centre.

“However, in recognising this special time of year, there will be Christmas lights across the city centre and these will be gradually switched on over the next couple of weeks.

“In a continually changing situation, and in line with all event organisers in the country, we are monitoring government guidance and keeping all public events under review, including arrangements and activities for Christmas.”

X Factor’s Rak-Su, Fleur East and judge Alesha Dixon are among those to have starred in the lights switch-on in recent years.