A ROW over a Christmas tree has been averted after Minehead Town Council agreed to put a traditional tree in Wellington Square - despite having already arranged for 1,000 new lights to adorn the 'living' tree in the square. A storm appeared to be brewing after a decision was taken to decorate the square's resident tree rather than bring in a Christmas tree to mark the festive season. While the decision was taken democratically by members of the town's Christmas committee - which includes representatives from the business community and town council - some town councillors were less than happy with the arrangement. A particular bone of contention was an apparent lack of consultation with local churches. But in the face of unseasonal unrest, Minehead Town Council decided to reinstate a tree in the square, even though the bulk of the lights and decorations will still adorn the square's 'living' arboreal resident. Town council clerk Sue Sanders confirmed the committee had had a change of heart and decided to put a Christmas tree in the square, although its arrival will be slightly delayed. She said the committee had originally decided to decorate the "big tree" to keep the square itself clear for musical performances, the arrival of Santa's sleigh and a display of vintage cars. She said there had also been problems in previous years with the electricity supply to the Christmas tree lights. That was being resolved by the use of a metered supply to the lights on the "big tree", while festivities had already been planned for the square which meant the traditional Christmas tree's arrival would have to be delayed until after the official festive light switch-on next Friday (December 8). The main lights themselves have also been updated this year to both reduce operating costs and to meet health and safety rules and regulations. Mrs Sanders said: "The lighting which we have been using is getting old. It was costly to use, expensive to maintain and was constantly breaking down. "The power supply and other safety issues also needed looking at and bringing up to standard. "This year new lighting will be installed, complete with a new power supply. The illuminations will be fitted with LED bulbs which are much more efficient and energy saving." She said extra lighting would be put in the trees around The Parade, while the new illuminations would be put up in The Parade between Friday Street and Bancks Street. But she warned finances were limited and said the Christmas committee was working towards bigger and better things. She said: "Unfortunately, the annual budget for Christmas lighting will only go so far and this means that this year there will be no lighting in the Parade between Bancks Street and Blenheim Road. "However, we intend to install this next year and also to extend the lights in the trees in the same area. This is an ongoing programme. "These changes in Wellington Square and The Parade have been forced on us as the old lighting in that area was no longer fit for purpose." Mrs Sanders said other lighting in the town would not be affected by the changes. However, the possibility of a Christmas tree not being put up in Wellington Square seemed to have caused the most concern. Minehead residents Anne O'Connor and Nicholas Brice contacted the Free Press to voice their objections to what they saw as a lack of Christmas cheer. They said: "The town Christmas tree is the centre of any town's celectrations and we are saddened that the Christmas tree was to be replaced by a few fairy lights in the tree already standing in the square. "While we may not always read the Free Press from cover to cover we have read nothing about this matter. Is the absence of a Christmas tree a matter of finance?" Sue Jenkins, the director of hotel and catering at Foxes Hotel was equally concerned. She said: "Rumour was in the air that we were not going to have a Christmas tree this year in Wellington Square. "We rang Minehead Town Council who informed us that this year, due to entertainment on the square, they would not have a tree until December 11, rather than the usual date of December 8. "Let's hope they keep to their word as it would be a great shame to lose that in Minehead, as it has been a tradition for many years."
