Take a look at this spectacular 'light up Lord Street' project

Three thousand sets of lights with 300,000 individual LED bulbs are now illuminating both sides of the mile-length Victorian boulevard in a scheme led by Southport Business Improvement

District (Southport BID).

Visitors to Lord Street can enjoy a dazzling 20 miles of lighting strung across 80 trees.

The initiative aims to create a vibrant atmosphere in Southport town centre, supporting local shops, restaurants, cafes, hotels, bars and other local businesses as they look to reopen soon

after the national Covid-19 lockdown.

Rachel Fitzgerald, Southport BID chief executive, said: “Lord Street is dazzling! It really is a sight well worth seeing.

“This has been such a tough year both for our local businesses in Southport and for local families.

“These sparkling new lights will give them a huge boost and a feel good factor that is much needed as we look to build back from this Covid pandemic.

“Our local business owners are working very hard at the moment getting ready to reopen within the next few weeks.

“I hope shoppers and diners enjoy the sparkling new Lord Street when they return.”

This substantial project to create new lighting along the entire length of the street began in November last year and was completed by Southport-based lighting firm Illumidex UK Ltd.

It was made possible through £100,000 in Acceleration Grant funding through the government’s Southport Town Deal initiative in addition to funding through Southport BID. Maintenance

costs will be paid for by the BID.

The lights are controlled by timers, which are currently set to shine between 6.30pm and midnight. The times the lights are on will vary depending on the time of year.

Illumidex owner Steve Clayton said: “What has been created here in Southport is really unique in the UK.

“I don’t know of any other shopping street anywhere in the country which has lighting like this along both sides of a mile-long street. If you laid all the lighting end to end, they would be just

a couple of miles short of the width of the shortest point of the English Channel. It really is spectacular.

“We have had so much great feedback from people who have seen the new lights already. Hopefully they will help to attract shoppers back into town once lockdown ends, and a few new

businesses as well.

“The new lights are going to be a real focal point, and a great talking point. Visitors will go away and tell their family and friends about the amazing new lights we have here in Southport

now.

“This is our home town. We are a Southport based company employing Southport people, we take on our apprentices from Southport College. We are really proud of what we have

achieved.

“Southport BID is doing a really superb job to try and boost the town, we are really enjoying working with them.”

Coun Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council cabinet member for regeneration and skills, said: “I am delighted that this work is now complete and Lord Street looks stunning! Huge thanks to all

our partners involved in the project.

“This is another welcome investment and good news for the town, following last week’s confirmation of £37.5 million award of funding from the Town Deal fund, alongside the council’s

continued investment into a number of venues and projects in the town.

“The council’s hope is that the projects and initiatives the funding will allow us to invest in will attract more visitors to Southport, and what a sight for them to see our beautiful boulevard

bathed in light.”

Southport BID has recently launched the new Southport Gift Card as a way of encouraging people to support local businesses. For more details visit: https://southportbid.com/southport-

gift-card/

Video credit: Southport BID

Thanks for reading. If you value what we do and are able to support us, a digital subscription is just £1 for your first month. Try us today by clicking here