CASH-STRAPPED Scottish Borders Council has been accused of a “Scrooge-like” mentality after its decision to axe the provision of Christmas trees to communities across the region.
With the local authority having to make across-the-board savings the action is expected to net in the region of £13,000 a year.
The move comes after SBC also announced it was withdrawing agreements to provide floodlighting at Melrose, Kelso and Jedburgh abbeys.
But the council has pledged it is happy to support the installation and logistics for towns wishing to source and pay for their own trees moving forward.
Nevertheless, the news has been condemned by a spokesperson for Hawick Community Council, while a pledge has been made that the town will have a tree this Yuletide, despite the council’s “penny-pinching Scrooge mentality”.
It has been announced that a discussion on the funding withdrawal and its implications will be held at the next community council meeting on Monday, June 8 in the Lesser Town Hall.
Townsfolk are being encouraged to go along and express their views.
Cameron Knox, chairperson of Hawick Community Council, said: “It’s extremely disappointing that SBC has taken this penny-pinching Scrooge mentality regarding supplying Christmas trees to the Border towns, this expense now falls to the community council to pick up.
“However be assured that Hawick, through the community council will have a Christmas tree for this Christmas and beyond.”
A council spokesperson said “there is no longer a budget to facilitate the supply of Christmas trees”, adding: “We recognise how important festive displays are to local communities and want to assure you that, while we can no longer provide Christmas trees, the council will continue to support the practical installation of a Christmas tree in locations that have previously received a tree, should you wish to self-fund a tree in your community.”
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