Go Forth Stirling Launches City Winter Light Trail

New winter lights have been unveiled in Stirling to create a welcoming atmosphere during the run up to Christmas and beyond.

Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District (BID) has invested £32,000 on the provision of lights which complement those provided annually by Stirling Council.

The BID project includes a canopy of lights at Goosecroft Road, catenary lighting above Friars Street and Upper Craigs and trees festooned with lights in areas such as Allan Park, Murray Place, Friars Street and Broad Street.

The team has also added lighting to the trees along Station Road and projected a lighting display onto the front of Stirling Baptist Church in Murray Place.

Stirling’s Winter Light Trail will remain beyond the usual festive season to create a warm and cheerful ambience aimed at attracting visitors to the city longer-term.

Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “We want to create a better `after dark’ atmosphere in Stirling which will be particularly important once our wonderful night-time economy is able to fully return. We have many great pubs, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs and entertainment venues in Stirling which people want to enjoy again and the lighting will create a welcoming atmosphere throughout the winter months.”

“Our Winter Light Trail will also make the city a much safer environment by lighting up the streets. This is a major investment from the BID and it means that the vast majority of the city centre will be lit up this winter.”

The Winter Light Trail is just one of a range of recent initiatives launched by the team at Go Forth Stirling to support the city’s business owners.

Other projects include a web page featuring local Christmas gift ideas, an`Open for Business’ online directory, social media giveaways, the provision of colourful `We’re Open – Shop Local’ posters, digital grants and an online training programme.

Go Forth Stirling Business Improvement District represents close to 400 local businesses with a key objective of delivering projects and services which improve the area’s trading environment to benefit businesses, shoppers and visitors.

The BID was set up in September 2017 following a vote among the city’s traders and runs for an initial five-year term.