After weeks of waiting, Paignton seafront will once again be lit up as the new festoon lighting is set to be switched on.

On Friday 17 September, Councillor Terry Manning, The Worshipful the Mayor of Torbay will be officially sparking up the illuminations.

Made possible following a £50k investment from us, the improved illuminations which run the length of Paignton Green offer more creative lighting all-year round and are digitally controlled using the latest pixel control software Madrix.

As part of the upgrade, all old wiring and fittings were removed and replaced with stainless-steel wire and fittings for longevity and safety. In addition, all lamps were replaced with LED RGB fixtures with full colour correction from Danish specialist LED manufacturer Develtron. The new fixtures do not only increase lighting levels but reduce overall power consumption.

The new upgraded festoon lighting can emulate the previous traditional effect, but at the click of a switch can make it more modern.

Owing to the latest digital technology both the Paignton and Torquay lights can be programmed so both locations can experience the same ‘light show’ at the exact same time.

The switch on will take place at 8.00pm on Friday 17 September from Paignton Green North.

Torbay residents and visitors are welcome to come along and enjoy the illuminations but are asked to avoid mixing with people from outside of their household and to keep socially distanced where possible.

The new illuminations in Paignton and Torquay can be enjoyed from a number of locations including Paignton seafront, Princess Gardens, Princess Pier, Torre Abbey beach, Corbyn Head and the top of Rock Walk.

The installation was completed by local company Future Technical Solutions (FTS) following a demonstration and visualisation to the council. The technology used for the illuminations is the first of its kind for this type of system, bringing a traditional seaside classic into the 21st century.

Councillor Steve Darling, Leader of Torbay Council, said; “The significant financial savings we made in 2020/21 turning around Children’s Services, meant we were able to invest £50k during the 2021/22 financial year to replace Paignton’s festoon lighting. The unveiling is a little later than we originally planned, but the new illuminations are definitely worth the wait and can be enjoyed all year round.”

Councillor Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture for Torbay Council, said; “Once again I’d like to say thank you to Future Technical Solutions for their fantastic work in getting Paignton’s festoon lighting replaced. We’ve received lots of positive comments regarding how great the Torquay illuminations look. It’s great that another of the Bay’s most prominent seafront areas gets to benefit from the modern twist on a seaside classic.”

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