A TOWN’S “shocking” Christmas tree has been slammed as the UK’s “worst” by furious locals – who say they could get a better one for £55 on the high street.
Council officials have promised to replace the festive tree erected in Hattersley after it was planted outside community centre The Hub.
MEN MediaJess Walker said she could find a better Christmas tree on the local high street[/caption]
The poor state of the tree has prompted severe criticism from residents when they noticed workmen had decorated it in lights and put barriers around it on Monday morning in time for Friday’s lights ‘switch-on’.
Now, following the festive furore, council officials have promised to provide a ‘cut tree’ in time for the switch on and replace the ‘living tree’.
Jess Walker, 35, assistant manager of Mottram Wood pub on the other side of Stockport Road, couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the tree on Monday morning.
She told the M.E.N: “It’s shocking. I run the pub opposite and we do lights and Santa grottos, everything. The only thing we don’t do is a big Christmas tree because we don’t have the staff to police something like that.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw it. It has a sign saying there’s a big lights switch-on on December 1. Are they joking? What are they going to be switching on?”
The mother-of-two, whose mother Yvonne Myler is landlady of the Mottram Wood, and who lives in Hattersley, added: “I’m not bringing my children to the switch-on of a twig of a Christmas tree.
“Kids wants to see something that makes them think ‘wow!’ don’t they? The kids on this estate don’t have much but we see they have lovely displays in Ashton and Hyde.
“We can’t turn that on for the kids of Hattersley. It’s shocking.
“I can get an 8ft tree down the road for £55. That’s a proper bushy tree. What we’ve got I think is just appalling. It’s just embarrassing. It makes us think they don’t care about the estate at all.
“We have a bad reputation as it is and it just shows that they are not bothered.”
After Jess lodged a formal complaint, officials have now promised a ‘cut tree’ for Friday’s lights switch-on.
Responding to Jess’s complaint on the Hattersley Community Group Facebook page, Coun Jacqueline Owen said she had spoken to officials who had ‘agreed to replace the planted one’.
The councillor went on: “We’ve tried to grow a sustainable tree, sadly unsuccessfully.”
Coun Owen added: “To be clear there isn’t a budget the the Xmas event in Hattersley.
“The councillors with community groups work together to provide a Christmas market, Santa’s grotto, entertainment and food for the community.
“We are all happy to work with any interested parties to make it a better event.”
MEN MediaThe poor state of the tree has prompted severe criticism from residents[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
