11:50am Sunday 25th December 2005
By Nic Brunetti
A MARLOW businessman has saved the day after pledging to do whatever it takes' to make sure Christmas late night shopping continues.
The future of the late night shopping event hung in the balance after the cost of closing the High Street for the occasion shot up to £1,250 because of new regulations.
But now Simon Funnell, 45, has said the company that he works for is ready to back organisers to ensure the event goes ahead.
Mr Funnell, of Bovingdon Green, Marlow, said: "Our principle is we will pledge whatever necessary to ensure the event goes ahead next year.
"There are quite a few shops in the High Street and it is good for them as well."
Organisers, the Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said the increase could risk the entire future of the Christmas event, which brings stalls and traders into the High Street.
The company Mr Funnell works for, Comland PLC, deals in commercial property and is the landlord for several businesses in Marlow, including the Hogshead pub in the High Street.
His offer was praised by the chamber who welcomed it was "brilliant news".
However, they have asked Comland to contribute towards the general cost of the event while they continue to fight against the increased road closure bill.
Jo Braybrooke, president of the chamber, said the pledge would help stage more charity stalls at the event.
She said: "It is absolutely brilliant.
"It means we won't have to have as many commercial stalls because we can reduce our charges.
"We also had to pay for the steel band this year as well as signs, so this could really help."
The cost of staging a charity stall at the event was £20 this year, but the generous pledge could see this figure plummet and allow more stalls to take part.
The chamber says the event has become too commercial in recent years and more charities would only benefit the community.
Although a flat-rate pledge has not been decided, the amount is believed to be a substantial sum.
The chamber already faced costs of around £2,000 to stage the event this year, apart from the old road closure cost of £155.
It also pays donations of £2,000 to £3,000 each year from traders towards the Christmas lights.
Mr Funnell, a father-of-two and a former Sir William Borlase's Grammar School pupil, said he wanted to put something back into his home town.
He added: "I have lived in Marlow all my life and it would be a shame to stop this because it is a nice little evening and the kids like it."
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