There may still be 126 days to Christmas but we're in the festive mood. The Argus is spearheading a drive to put the sparkle back into Brighton and Hove this year.

Last year bare streets, a sorry-looking tree and lack of seasonal spirit left residents and visitors asking 'Do they know it's Christmas?'

This year, we are playing Santa's little helper and encouraging the city to act now to make sure this is a cracker of a Christmas.

Our countdown to the big day began on a warm evening in July when we invited business leaders to join us for mince pies and sherry.

Stephen Lowe, head of sales and marketing for The Argus, told the gathering at the Jubilee Library The Argus wanted to ensure the city shone once again.

The Argus kicked the festivities off by securing the city's centrepiece - a huge Christmas tree to be erected in Victoria Gardens. The 40ft-high Norway spruce is being donated by Garden Pride in Common Lane, Ditchling. The environment department at Brighton and Hove City Council has agreed to erect the tree.

The Argus Appeal grotto will return but has moved from its traditional place in The Lanes to Churchill Square shopping centre.

Others traders were also happy to join the party spirit and pledge their support. They wrote down suggestions of how they would help bring the sparkle back to the city on red baubles, which have been pinned on to a cardboard Christmas tree.

The tree will be displayed in The Argus office in Dyke Road, Brighton, from tomorrow to remind traders to keep their promises.

Roger French, of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, will provide a Santa bus and driver throughout December.

Peter Stocker, from the North Laine Traders' Association, pledged to decorate the streets with tinsel. Sue Addis, of Donatello restaurant in Brighton Place, Brighton, is organising a street party for traders in The Lanes - if they pledge £50 towards lights.

Backing has also been promised by Peter Beard and Derek Maddison, at Churchill Square, Pam Morriss, at Southern Railway, Soozie Campbell, from The Business Forum, Jo Ashton, at Southern FM, Peter Hayles, at the Metropole Hotel, Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce, Paul Hudson, from Brighton and Hove Arts Council, and Adam Bates, head of tourism at Brighton and Hove City Council.

The council has pledged £24,000 for displays and will match money raised by traders in The Lanes and North Laine up to a limit of £18,000.

Mr French said: "The ultimate solution is for all traders to contribute a little bit. In areas like Western Road, the big national chains don't seem interested and the smaller shops feel it is all left to them."

He said business improvement districts, which may be set up in Brighton and Hove next year, would help solve the Christmas lights problem by collecting a minimum amount from all traders.

Last year, the city was shamed when it was voted as having the worst Christmas decorations in the country by listeners of Radio 5 Live.

Councillor Brian Fitch compared barriers erected round fir trees to a "murder scene" and main shopping streets were still in darkness with less than two weeks to go until the big day.

But The Argus hopes to change all that this year with the help of local businesses and your suggestions.

What would you do to get the city in festive mood? Email your suggestions to news@theargus.co.uk or write to: Bring Christmas Back To Brighton And Hove, The Argus, Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, Brighton, BN1 8AR.

Sue Addis, owner of Donatello restaurant
"The Lanes Business Network has been working really hard to make sure the area looks fantastic.

"We are asking traders to pledge £50 or £100 towards lights and decorations. Brighton Square is going to look great as well.

"We are holding a huge party with food and drink for everyone who makes a donation and we want as many people as possible to get involved.

"There will also be the chance to win a Red Letter Day prize.

"The winner gets a meal at Donatello, a glass of champagne, a massage, a visit to the theatre and a night at Drake's Hotel.

"The council has very kindly agreed to check the eyebolts that hold up the decorations for us.

"We are hoping they are going to help us along and they have agreed to come to a meeting to walk round The Lanes and discuss what's happening so they are on our side.

"I think we did do well last year but we want to make it better and have something even bigger to build on next year."

Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach company
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, a festive bus will be touring the city collecting money for charity. The Santa bus starts in Portslade on December 1 and will tour different areas of Brighton and Hove from Monday to Thursday until December 22.

Mr French said: "We cannot light up every road in Brighton and Hove but we will be really brightening up the streets and bringing festive cheer to everybody, "The open-top bus will be completely covered in Christmas decorations and lights. Santa will be on the top deck with a band and volunteers from The Martlets hospice. We will be driving slowly down residential streets collecting money, which will be donated to The Argus Appeal and The Martletts hospice.

"It has been a real struggle to get money together for Christmas decorations so good on The Argus for kicking this off."

The bus will be sponsored by Legal & General, while the Theatre Royal and Sussex Signs are helping with lights and decorations.

David Jermyn, manager of Garden Pride
A giant 40ft tree with twinkling strings of lights is being planted in Victoria Gardens to mark the start of the Christmas season.

Mr Jermyn said: "I do think last year was a bit of a disappointment.

"It would be great if we could get something better organised this year.

"There seems to be a good response from traders so far, which is encouraging.

"We are happy to get involved and hopefully there will be much more of an impact this year.

"It is never too early to start planning for Christmas.

"We sell a couple of thousand trees every year and we are starting to plan for the season now.

"We are getting all our decorations priced and sorted out.

"If you are doing something big, like we hope to in Brighton and Hove, you have to start even earlier."

Monday, August 22, 2005