Santa still plans to tour Aylesbury streets during December
But one Rotary Club has decided not to get out its sleigh this year
Last updated 26th Nov 2020
It's mixed news when it comes to whether Santa will be touring the streets of Aylesbury in the run up to the big day.
The town's Rotary Clubs both say they wanted to run their floats - but the Hundreds branch say they have 'reluctantly stabled the Reindeer' this year.
The other Rotary Club here say they're planning to head out depending on government advice.
Santa asked to concentrate on Christmas eve deliveries
The Rotary club of Aylesbury Hundreds say that to ensure the safety of children and the public at large the club has reluctantly stabled the Reindeer and asked Santa to concentrate on his Christmas eve deliveries.
Since the lockdown announcement, safe ways of operating the street visits have been discussed in detail.
The Club say the dangers of distancing and contact with the public cannot be safely controlled on a moving or static vehicle.
The usual charity collectors and Rotary members are also wary of contact with the virus and no one wants to contract Covid 19 at all, never mind at Christmas time.
In a statement, the Club told us:
"We are aware that children and families will be very disappointed as indeed will the charities that benefit from the usual collections made and I and the club members apologise for this sad loss of Christmas cheer to everyone.
"We have taken steps not to miss out on a Christmas presence totally and are very pleased to announce we are donating 16 Children's Toy Boxes to a safe refuge home for mothers and children in Aylesbury.
"The generosity of the local public will be greatly missed but, we will make a further announcement as to how you can donate to Rotary Charities when operational methods are finalised."
Santa will still tour some streets in Aylesbury
Meanwhile, the other Rotary Club in Aylesbury 'very much hopes to be able to bring some much-needed Christmas cheer to the residents of Aylesbury this December'.
Exact arrangements for the tour this year will depend on national and local measures that are in place during December to suppress the Covid 19 virus and the Club say they are very aware of the need to avoid public gatherings and maintain social distancing.
The latest information about the routes Santa will be travelling each evening will beon their websiteand Facebook page.
The Club has submitted a detailed risk assessment to the local council and hope this will be approved to allow them to also have a presence in Aylesbury town centre (High Street) on Saturdays 12th and 19th December from 10 am to 4 pm so Christmas shoppers can get some Santa magic, too.
The Club said:
"Each December for more than 40 years, the generous people of Aylesbury have donated millions of coins and lots of paper money too, that has enabled us to make grants to local charities who this year need our help more than ever.
"We will still have our collecting buckets, albeit at a metre's distance from both our collectors and members of the public, but recognise that this isn't ideal for everyone.
"We have invested in contactless card payment technology for those who prefer to "tap and go" with credit or debit cards and have also set up text and online payment options."
How to donate to local charities this Christmas
The Rotary Club in Aylesbury are raising money for: ScannAppeal, Medical Detection Dogs, Heart of Bucks, Alzheimers Society, Lindengate, The Gateway Club and youth groups,
Online payments:
Text: DUCK plus your donation amount to 70460
You can donate any sum between £1 and £20
For example Text DUCK3 to 70460 to donate £3
Text DUCK5 to 70460 to donate £5
Text DUCK15 to 70460 to donate £15
Your text will cost your donation amount plus one standard rate message.
Credit or Debit Card contactless payment:
Just tap your card on the reader when you see the Santa Float to donate any amount.
Cash:
Just place your spare coins or paper money into our collecting buckets