HORLEY is dreaming of a bright Christmas and traders are urging shoppers to help light up the town.
With the usual festive lights too decrepit to do the job this year, the Horley Association of Traders (HATs) is desperately trying to raise £25,000 to bring a little sparkle to High Street and Victoria Road.
Despite Raven Housing Association agreeing to match what the traders can raise up to a total of £5,000, the group fears it will end up £10,000 short as shops and shoppers have been slow to get on board in the current economic climate.
"I would love to get £25,000 but I don't think we'll get there if people don't come forward to help," HATs chairman Andy Parr told the Mirror.
"People complain year on year about the lights and now we are giving them a chance to help light the town, but we need people to get involved."
The traders have taken over the organising of the Christmas lights from the Chamber of Commerce and so far around £3,500 has been raised, mostly in donations from shops.
With the switch-on planned for December 8, the group needs to start sorting out the decorations in early November. Shoppers can leave donations at High Street stores such as the Party Pad and Chris White Butchers, and can help with fundraising by taking part in events including Saturday's Hallowe'en Ball and the Horley Christmas Raffle. As the deadline looms, traders say residents need to join in if they don't want to face doing their yuletide shopping in the dark.
Butcher Chris White said: "If we don't help ourselves we can't whinge because there is no money for anyone else to help us."
While many shoppers agree the lights will add some sparkle to their Christmas shop, some feel the town needs more than a few bulbs to turn around its festive fortunes.
Shopper Rodney Jupp, 69, said: "This used to be a great little town, we need more here. At one time, there used to be a big Dickensian evening, it would be nice to bring that back."
Nicky Bartlett, 43, added: "For the last few years we've just had some old lights. Someone really needs to do something. Lights will be good, but it's just not the same as it used to be here."
The Hallowe'en Ball will be held at the Horley Constitutional Club in Albert Road at 8pm. Tickets £5. Tickets for the Horley raffle, with prizes donated by shops, are 25p.
All tickets are available from Party Pad and Chris White Butchers. Ball tickets can be bought from the club.
