THIS year’s annual party in The Square that accompanies the switch-on of the Christmas lights in Petersfield is in the balance.

In past years it has seen town-centre shops stay open into the evening attracting shoppers, visitors and those just there to enjoy themselves.

The sparkling fun evening normally packs The Square from the early afternoon to well after the switch-on.

And those enjoying the event take full advantage of the late-night shopping and town-centre pubs and restaurants.

The countdown to the switch-on is overseen by Petersfield Town Council and staged by Hometown Events of Stafford Road, Petersfield, who normally lay on entertainment from late afternoon onwards in the closed-to-traffic Square

Steve Field of Petersfield Town Council said: “Discussions are taking place as to the nature of this year’s switch-on.

“The two options are a big event as in previous years, or depending on advice, a low-key socially-distanced event.

“A decision has to be made by the end of September so the programme can be put together if a big event goes ahead.

“But although we have to err on the side of caution, no final decision has been made yet.”

And the town council’s current caution and concern that the lucrative day for town-centre businesses may not happen is echoed by East Hampshire District Council.

The council says high streets across the district are still struggling to shake off the post-lockdown ‘ghost town’ blues.

EHDC regeneration director Simon Jenkins said: “Car parking revenue is still at about 50 per cent of what it was this time last year.

“People just aren’t returning to the towns yet.”

And there are fears a ‘flat’ festive period will make matters much worse, with traders and residents urged to pull out all the stops in an effort to make Christmas a cracker for everyone.

Residents in particular are asked to shop local whenever they can, to help businesses avoid being seasonally out of pocket and left facing a bleak new year, with closures likely.

But the district council says it will do all it can to help make Christmas a success and drive the high streets across the district back into profitability and vibrancy.

Council leader Richard Millard said: “Christmas for traders starts about the second week of October, and this year it’s going to be very tough for them.

“But we are looking at ways of getting people back into the towns and cranking things up to give visibility to local business and high streets.”