Christmas Lights Event to Proceed Despite £80,000 Cable Theft

An upcoming Christmas lights display is set to proceed even after the reported theft of copper cabling valued at £80,000. Organisers stated that the Light Up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens At Christmas event in Romsey had been the subject of months of preparation. However, as their team prepared for the show’s opening, they uncovered the “devastating” theft. Personnel at the venue, who were simultaneously addressing the effects of Storm Bert, discovered that thousands of pounds’ worth of cabling had been stolen over the weekend. Libby Battaglia, who manages Light Up Trails, confirmed that the gardens were shut on Saturday and Sunday due to the storm. Ms. Battaglia recounted: “On Sunday morning, we noticed some of the lights had gone out, which we were shocked about, but we didn’t think anything of it, we just thought ‘we’re going to have so much to do’.” She added that on Monday, additional staff were brought in to assist with post-storm cleanup, at which point they realized there was no internet access. Ms. Battaglia further explained: “We walk over to the generator to see if it’s on and we realise there’s no cables attached to it. “We decide to follow the route of whether the cables were going and realise that they’re missing, so it’s obviously a theft.” The Light Up Trails team promptly acquired replacement materials, and technicians worked overnight to restore full functionality. Ms. Battaglia stated their belief that an on-site golf buggy was utilized to travel between the various installations and collect the cables. She also noted: “Bizarrely, a quantity of sweets and fizzy drinks was also stolen – perhaps they worked up a thirst?” Tracy Randall, representing Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, described the theft as “devastating.” She elaborated: “Light Up Trails spend so much time and effort doing all this and the garden is a registered charity, this is devastating for us.” Crews are currently engaged in continuous efforts to guarantee the show’s public opening. Last year, approximately 72,000 visitors attended during the month the trail was accessible, and organizers anticipate a comparable attendance figure this year. Ms. Randall further commented: “This is a beautiful show and it’s going to be incredible and it’s about saying, we’re resilient and that’s not going to stop us.” A representative for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed that the police force is investigating the incident, and the organizers of the light show have implemented enhanced security protocols. The event is scheduled to commence at 16:30 GMT and will continue through 1 January. For updates, BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight can be followed on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.