FESTIVE shoppers are being urged to ‘keep it local’ when deciding where to buy their gifts.
And there will be even more reason to visit Wokingham town centre than usual next month as a family fun day hits the town.
The borough and town councils, along with the Business Association, are supporting the town’s shops and businesses during the town centre Market Place regeneration works by promoting the message ‘keep it local this Christmas’.
On Sunday, December 2 there will be lots going on including festive music from local favourites such as the St Paul’s Church Choir, and free family fun such as a balloon modeller and a hands-on arts drop-in stall to help make decorations to go up around the town centre.
Activities will be taking place across the town centre including at Wokingham Library, the market area in the plaza, Market Place, Peach Place and the Bradbury Centre.
Shoppers will also be given an opportunity to meet some of the Market Place team to find out more about what’s happening in the town centre, and to take a sneak peek behind the hoardings as the council will be opening up the Peach Place site from the end of Bush Walk for people to come and see the new square.
The day has been timed to coincide with the Bradbury Centre’s Festival of Angels (see our festive guide from page 19 for more information) which is an ever-popular annual event at the Methodist Centre in Rose Street. The Festival will see the Bradbury Centre taken over for the weekend with Christmas trees decorated by local groups and charities, along with a host of other activities such as making angel decorations and free entertainment.
Mayor of Wokingham Town Cllr Peter Lucey “There is a wonderful range of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs in Wokingham town centre and it is a perfect town for a Christmas shopping trip. We have our Winter Carnival this weekend (Sunday November 26); the ‘keep it local this Christmas’ activities the following week on the December 2 and our Living Advent Calendar starts its daily entertainment on Friday December 1. We are looking forward to buzzing weekends in Wokingham!”
Wokingham Borough Council executive member for Business and economic development and regeneration Cllr Stuart Munro said: “The Market Place works will create a stunning new look for the heart of the town and will be a much-needed improvement.
“But we understand the short-term problems being caused and listened to shops and businesses about how we can help. We have used online videos and advertising in The Wokingham Paper to market the town but when we meet shop owners and other business they were clear that events are a good way to boost footfall – hence the ‘keep it local this Christmas’.”
