Council shines lights on sad Christmas tree, insists it’s ‘alive’

A brown, bare tree has been draped in festive lights to get in the spirit of Christmas – and locals really aren’t impressed.

The mindless tree in Oxford Square, Blackpool, stands in a small patch of lawn next to Greggs, Aldi and a row of houses.

The council planted the tree last year, but locals claim its plush green needles fell off within months, leaving it a little, well, wooden.

So locals were shocked to say the least when they saw the 12-foot tree laden with twinkling lights on the fir this month.

Council leaders have insisted the tree is “alive”, although people feel it is in worse shape than the council is admitting.

One resident said on social media: “So Blackpool Council directed a staff member to light up Christmas trees around the town and no one noticed some of those trees were dead?

“No doubt those same staff now have to remove the lights before a new tree can be planted when they can come back for a third visit and decorate the new tree.

‘Unbelievable! Is it any wonder that municipal budgets are under serious pressure?’

Another added: “They need to be taken care of not just planted and left behind, obviously they don’t know how to take care of a Christmas tree because why would anyone bang some lights on that branch when it’s one of the main streets that.” going in and out of Blackpool is beyond me.

“I wonder who was like, ‘Oh, let’s put some lights on that branch.'”

A third user said: “This tree caught my eye the other day. Why did they even bother putting lights on a tree that has no pine needles?

“The world has gone mad.”

In response to the not-so-holly or cheerful reaction on social media, council officials have said they will be replacing the tree.

John Blackledge, the council’s director for community and environmental services, said: “A new tree is coming onto the site just in time for Christmas.

“The current tree has been inspected and is alive but will be moved and replanted to allow it to recover.

“Unfortunately, the Christmas trees planted last year suffered from a difficult winter and will be transplanted to a new location in a protected environment.

“A new line of trees across the city is being prepared for Christmas.”

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