Newtown's Christmas light switch-on in the Town Hall grounds will be reviewed in time for this year's event following mixed reviews from spectators.

Hundreds of people turned out to see the festive lights in the town centre on November 30 which also included an illuminated bike parade.

Crowds lined Broad Street and High Street to watch the lights switch on despite organisers relocating the event in 2021 to the Town Hall grounds after concerns about overcrowding and social distancing.

Many disgruntled spectators took to social media following the Kicking Off Christmas event to express their disappointment at the limited view of the lights from the Town Hall grounds.

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Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council, who organised the event, said it had received an "overwhelming" feedback response and are "committed to using this information to tailor future events to better suit the desires of our community".

The Town Hall grounds became the focal point of the Kicking Off Christmas event when a light show was held in 2021 and a winter village was introduced in 2022, a town council meeting heard on Monday evening (January 8).

Councillor David Selby recalled that the event was relocated to the Town Hall grounds because there were issues with overcrowding in the streets.

"It’s dark and young children were there,” he said. “I remember a time there was a roundabout for the kiddies in Broad Street and the crush around it was getting quite dangerous.

County Times: In previous years, the event was held in Broad Street.In previous years, the event was held in Broad Street.

"There were reasons for changes and Covid made more things to change. Somewhere there is a balance. The initial social media response was how great it was.

"The obvious thing is to see the lights switch on which was harder in the park but not impossible to achieve. There were certainly definite issues with it being in Broad Street."

Committee chair Councillor Richard Edwards added: "It’s always been difficult getting that balance whenever we’ve had it. We’ve had it on the back of a lorry and on the balcony in Broad Street. Wherever you position it, it raises different issues."

The Town Council also heard that there is a need for more people to volunteer their time as stewards to help guide and keep people safe.

Councillors will meet to discuss the feedback received as plans progress for organising the 2024 Kicking off Christmas event, the town council added.