The new Christmas tree

The new Christmas tree was certainly a talking point at the switch on Friday. There was mixed opinion before it was switched on but once it was fully lit most people I talked to said it was fine.

As readers of this blog will know from last Christmas I have never been in favour of sticking a dead branch in the ground at huge expense to the council tax payers of Ashton and then throw it away after three weeks or so. I have never believed this to be a good use of tax payers money.

The alternatives to this are as follows:

1. Plant a living tree outside the library. I have been told by tree experts that this was not possible on the plot outside the library because of electrical installations that had been sited under the ground there. There was not enough room for the roots to take hold.

2. An artificial tree with lights which we now have

The advantages of the artificial tree are that it can be used for several years without much outlay. It should be pointed out that local councillors fund the Christmas lights from a pot of money called Brighter Borough which is used to help groups and individuals improve the area they live in. In the two years I have been councillor I have spent over 50% of my allowance on Christmas trees and lighting which I have always said is a disproportionate amount of money for the length of time Christmas lasts. The buying of this artificial tree will release thousands of pounds from next April to spend on projects which will benefit groups and individuals in the Ashton area.

For more details of the Brighter Borough funding please contact me.