Bridgnorth town hall 'was not illuminated just for Pride', town council says

Bridgnorth Town Council has denied that it has replaced its lighting at the town hall just for the annual Pride event.

• Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Shropshire Star’s free newsletter

The town hall is set to be illuminated pink to coincide with the LGBT+ event in the town this weekend, but the town council said it wanted to provide clarification regarding recent works undertaken to the illumination system.

In a statement, the town council said: “The works, which have recently been completed, were routine maintenance to repair and replace the existing lighting system, which had been reaching the end of its operational lifespan., and not specifically installed for Pride.

“Over recent months, the council became aware that a number of the lights were operating erratically, with some units having failed completely,” the statement said.

“The maintenance programme was therefore commissioned to ensure that the town hall's illumination system remains functional and reliable for years to come. As part of the works, the previous lighting has been replaced with a modern LED system, providing improved efficiency, reliability and flexibility.

“The council is aware that some members of the public have suggested that the works were undertaken in response to a request from Bridgnorth Pride to illuminate the town hall in recognition of Pride celebrations. The council wishes to make clear that this is not the case.

“The decision to replace the lighting system was made solely as a result of the condition of the existing equipment and the need to undertake essential maintenance.

“The town hall has been illuminated on many occasions in support of national campaigns, commemorations and community events. Most recently, the building was illuminated in support of Grief Awareness Week in November 2025. The replacement of the lighting system ensures that the council can continue to support appropriate events and initiatives in the future.”

The town council said the new LED installation also provides the capability to illuminate the town hall in a wider range of colours and the town council is open to considering requests from community groups, charities and organisations wishing to mark particular celebrations, awareness campaigns or commemorative occasions for a small fee.

“The council also wishes to correct inaccurate information that has appeared on some social media platforms regarding the cost of the works. Quotations were obtained for the project, and the total cost to the town council was £678. This is significantly lower than the figure of £2,000 that has been quoted in some online discussions,” the town council said.

“As the works involved the repair and replacement of an existing lighting installation, no planning permission was required, and there was therefore no requirement to seek consent from the planning authority.”

Town mayor Councillor Chris Aked added: "The town hall is one of Bridgnorth's most important and recognisable buildings, and it is important that we maintain it properly. These works were straightforward maintenance to replace a lighting system that was reaching the end of its useful life and becoming increasingly unreliable.

“The new LED lighting provides a more efficient and dependable solution while also giving the council greater flexibility to mark important national, charitable and community events in the future.

“I am pleased that the work has been completed at a modest cost to local taxpayers and that we can continue to use the town hall illumination to support a wide range of causes and occasions."