THANKS have been extended to a Crediton business which has agreed to make a considerable donation to this year's town Christmas celebrations. Helmores estate agents has agreed to become the main sponsors of "Christmas in Crediton" for the next five years. The Crediton Town Council "Christmas in Crediton" sub-committee last year organised a late night shopping evening and a parade and light switch-on ceremony in the Town Square, which was a huge success. Decorated trees adorned business frontages and a cross-street decoration was a new addition. The sub-committee has been planning to increase on the number of trees, apply for an official road closure for the parade and have more entertainment after the light switch-on ceremony this year. Crediton Town Council, Mid Devon District Council and Devon County Council (through Cllr Nick Way) supported the events and activities last year with some small donations and support from town businesses and organisations. These included Crediton Dairy, Graphic plc, Crediton Arts Centre, Ashgrove Kitchens, Conibear Brothers, The Rotary Clubs of Crediton, Crediton Army Cadets, CRAMP, The Green House, Crediton Confectionery, Evans Newsagents, Peter Brewer, the "Crediton Courier", Crediton Police, Concept Cards, Radio Exe, Crediton Town Band and Mr and Mrs Ford. Thanks also went to Richard, Mark, Win and Tom who put the trees up and took them down. This year, thanks to Helmores, plans are being put in place to increase the celebrations in an effort to promote local shopping in the town for all to enjoy. The sub-committee also hopes that other businesses will step up with offers of donations. Crediton Town clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, who administers the sub-committee, said: "Our special thanks are due to Helmores who are the main sponsors of 'Christmas in Crediton' for the next five years. "The town council was pleased to be approached by the company with this offer, as it has helped to ensure the continued development in the second year of this celebratory event. "As a council, we are keen to support the High Street shops and businesses, especially at an important time of the year for retail, so a project which encourages people into the town at Christmas, to see what an excellent shopping centre it is, is a very important one to us." She added: "There is still the capacity for other business sponsors to come forward to support this year's event so that we can include all the illuminations, decorations and activities that we have planned for 2014." For further details please contact Mrs Dalley at the Council Offices on 01363 773717 or email: [email protected]">[email protected] . Helmores partner Rob Stoyle said: "We were very impressed by all the hard work that the 'Christmas in Crediton' committee and volunteers put into organising last year's Christmas celebrations that we have decided to commit funding to help it increase on the celebrations it arranges for the whole town. "Helmores is pleased to be able to help in this way and we look forward to a tremendous evening on November 28." At a recent meeting of Crediton Town Council the councillors agreed to support spending £1,800 towards the cost of putting a road closure in place for the parade and light switch-on ceremony. Cllr Richard Adams says he thought the cost of putting the road closure in place was too high and put forward a motion calling for the plan to be re-examined. He said the money would be better spent on illuminations. Fellow councillors agreed eight votes to two to approve the funding to allow funds to pay for the road closure for the parade down the High Street on the evening of November 28. After losing the vote, Cllr Adams gathered his papers and left the meeting. The parade will involve schools and community groups and hundreds of people are expected to take part. Businesses in the street will be supplied with Christmas trees and lights which will be switched on as the head of the parade passes by. After the meeting Cllr Adams told the "Courier": "I was so disgusted with this decision, squandering money, that I left the meeting for the only time in over 25 years. "Was it worth spending that amount of money just to close the road? Those funds could have been used to purchase more lights or similar decorations. "I tried to get this matter referred back to the 'Christmas in Crediton' committee for further consideration but to no avail." Crediton Mayor Councillor Frank Letch said the road closure and diversions, which will take traffic via Whiddon Down and North Tawton, were necessary because the High Street is an A road and there was a risk that someone would be injured if the closure was not made using a proper agency. In this case the AA, which is licenced to put up diversions, was successful in bidding for the council tender. He added: "Last year the parade went ahead along pavements and was unsatisfactory because of this. "Businesses like Helmores estate agents, which sponsored the lights to the tune of £5,000, have dug deep and provided enough money this year for us to do something with a bit of panache. "The parade from St Lawrence Green to the Square might only take half an hour but the closure means everyone can be marshalled together in a totally safe environment and then parade together. "It will also mean people coming out to watch the parade can mill around for as long as they want and spend money at Crediton businesses." He said people had been working very hard on the plans and he did not appreciate Cllr Adams' "griping" about the issue at the last minute. He added: "He may not like the decision made but it was taken democratically. In a democratic process you don't just walk out because you don't like a decision. To my mind it's the height of rudeness." He said he has written to Cllr Adams about his conduct. The Christmas in Crediton sub committee involves representatives from many town businesses and organisations as well as councillors.