Let there be light in Square!

7:22pm Friday 5th September 2008

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A PULSATING new light will be fitted in Bournemouth Square on Tuesday to replace the Millennium Flame and make it a meeting place once again.

The Chromosphere will look like a two-foot wide pearl, changing gradually changing colour every five to 10 seconds.

It will sit on top of the pole which bore the Millennium Flame - turned off in May 2006 because of rising gas prices and concern over carbon emissions.

Engineers hoped to do the work yesterday but they are waiting for a break in the weather.

The original flame was put up to celebrate the millennium and the 2000th birthday of Jesus Christ, but fuel bills rose to £8,000 a year and the churches decided the money could be better spent.

The new cost-efficient light will be on 24 hours a day.

The sphere uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) and only needs 50 watts of power - about the same as an ordinary house light.

Tim Taylor from engineers Contract Lighting said: "You don't want rain when you are dealing with electric.

"The light's full colours will be hard to see during the day. It will be at night that it comes to life."

The Bournemouth Church Flame Trust has bought it for an undisclosed fee and it was the idea of members David Craig and Steve Strongman.

Mr Strongman told the Daily Echo: "It will most likely be renamed The Light of Hope. Jesus is referred to in the Bible as the light of the world.

"It will become a meeting point for people in the town centre again.

"People used to say I will see you under the flame'. We are trying to keep that concept."

The impressive flame will get new trustees from Bournemouth YMCA and it will become the responsibility of Hope FM, the local Christian radio station.