Light display to mark anniversary of first lockdown in Hartlepool, with plans for permanent artwork remembering covid pandemic in town

Jacksons Dock hosted the Reflections light and music display in December. Another light display will mark a year since the beginning of lockdown in March.

Denise McGuckin, managing director at Hartlepool Borough Council, provided an update on plans to mark one year of being under social-distancing restrictions in March.

Speaking at Thursday’s full council meeting, she said officers are looking at arranging ‘lighting events’ in each ward in the borough for March 23 and 24, the one-year anniversary of social distancing measures.

She also noted councillors and officers will be looking at creating a piece of artwork in the future, such as a sculpture, to commemorate those who have been impacted and lost loved ones due to the pandemic.

Denise McGuckin, managing director at Hartlepool Borough Council

She said: “We’re looking at another lighting event that will be held on two days.

“We’ll be driving round doing the lighting event in each ward, including our villages, to do something during the 23rd and 24th of March, so that people can come out of their homes, not go too far, but actually see something.

“Then we will be looking at a specific piece of art, a sculpture, to allow people the opportunity to reflect.”

She added the lighting events will build on similar displays held in the past year, such as the ‘Hartlepool Six’ lights displayed on Bonfire Night and the ‘Reflections’ display just before Christmas.

Speaking at the meeting on Thursday, an update was also provided on Covid-19 figures in the region for the past week.

Hartlepool has had 155 cases of Covid-19 in the last seven days, equating to 165 per 100,000 of the population, it was reported.

Positive updates were also given in regards to the lack of cases in care settings and an improvement in hospital numbers.

Mrs McGuckin said: “I am pleased to say there have been no deaths in care settings in the last two weeks and no cases reported over the last week.

“This is the first time we’ve been in this position since last July and August, this is really positive and hopefully reflects the impact of the vaccination programme.”

She added: “As of the 19th February the trust [North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust] had 65 Covid patients and 11 in intensive care, so things are definitely getting better for the hospital, they’ve still got pressure there, but definitely it’s a lot better.”

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