FELIXSTOWE seafront is today looking forward to a brighter future – with some light at last being shed on what is happening about the resort's illuminations.

FELIXSTOWE seafront is today looking forward to a brighter future - with some light at last being shed on what is happening about the resort's illuminations.

The multi-coloured decorative lights along the promenade were taken down in 2002 and it had been hoped new ones would be up in time for last summer, but sadly the project has taken longer than envisaged.

Now though progress is being made on a new lighting scheme - and six strings of different lights are being tested between the Town Hall and pier.

Some of the strings are coloured and some are white lights, some are double strings, and there are bulbs of different sizes. Most feature vandal-proof coloured casings around efficient low-watt bulbs.

Mayor Doreen Savage, who is also chairman of the resort regeneration group, said the aim of the test was to see which lights would look best, which would be the most economical to run, and find out the public's views.

"There have been some very favourable comments so far and the coloured ones seem to be the most popular," said Mrs Savage.

"The aim is make a choice fairly soon and hopefully get them in place for the summer season. It is another improvement for the resort which should bring pleasure to visitors and residents."

The seafront has certainly been darker without the string of lights and lanterns, though most of the flowing fountain lights on the posts have carried on working.

Problems with the decorative lights began when the traditional bulbs and lanterns were replaced with hi-tech new ones.

Suffolk Coastal council received a string of complaints from traders, residents and visitors unhappy that what should have been a marvellous display never really worked with many long sections of lights often being out.

The failure to find an immediate solution to the ongoing faults, despite much discussion with the suppliers, originally due to replace all the lights with a type of strip lighting, led to the council deciding to have the lights taken down

The aim is to have new lights which stretch from the funfair to beyond the Spa Pavilion and to have them illuminated all year round.

Suffolk Coastal is keen to have low maintenance and energy-efficient bulbs in order to keep the ongoing costs as low as possible.

n Do you have stories from the Felixstowe area? Please contact Richard Cornwell at our Felixstowe Newsdesk on 01394 284109 or write to him at 105B Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7BL, or e-mail richard.cornwell@eveningstar.co.uk