Race to save Christmas in Stourbridge’s Lower High Street

Traditionally the town centre has been lit up with banner lights strung across the High Street, which have been provided by the Chamber of Trade.

Sadly, this year Dudley Council has condemned the lights as not suitable or safe to use.

The Christmas lights that have usually adorned Stourbridge High Street (Image: Bev Holder / Newsquest)

To try to ensure there’s still a little bit of festive cheer in the town, as it hosts its Christmas festival and lights switch-on this Saturday (November 30), a few smaller lamp-post lights have been obtained.

However, they have only been installed in the main High Street, leaving Lower High Street in the dark.

Pete Cox, who runs Stourbridge Music Centre in Lower High Street, was among traders and residents left disappointed about the lack of lights.

Stourbridge resident Woody Kirk-Granger, from Pedmore, said: “The Christmas lights at Stourbridge are awful this year.

“They have removed the banner light displays that go across the roads and most likely have taken some of the LED lights from the surrounding areas/towns and used them on the lamp posts instead.

Christmas lights in Stourbridge High Street in 2024 (Image: Newsquest)

“It's very disappointing.”

Councillor Damian Corfield, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for highways and environment, explained the situation and said: “The council provides a tree and tree illumination each year, but the additional Christmas lighting is provided by the Chamber of Trade and installed by the council.

“We inspected these lights in October and discovered that none were in a suitable condition to use this year.

The old Stourbridge Christmas lights (Image: Handout)

“In order to ensure the town centre was still dressed for Christmas we have used some of our own decorations to dress the High Street, but were unfortunately unable to extend these down Lower High Street as they are not compatible with our infrastructure.

“We hope that visitors to the town enjoy our efforts and hope to see them at the official light switch-on on Saturday November 30.”

It’s understood that Ryemarket centre manager Aaron Powell, chairman of Stourbridge BID Steering Group, has been doing his utmost to try to obtain lights for Lower High Street.

Stourbridge councillor Andrew Tromans said: “I would like to commend chair of the Stourbridge BID Steering Group Aaron Powell for his efforts, in difficult circumstances, to ensure that Stourbridge town centre will be lit up for Christmas.

“Festive lights used to illuminate the town in years gone by were not suitable for use due to missing parts and defects, which adds to the challenge.

“We are working hard to try to install lights on Lower High Street but we may need a Christmas miracle at this rate.”