Pontypool Council’s Christmas Tree Decoration Policy Draws Criticism

A council’s request for residents to adorn the town’s Christmas trees themselves has been met with public discontent. Pontypool Community Council made a decision last year, at the close of October, to substitute traditional cut Christmas trees with 16 living trees. Although the council supplied solar-powered lights for these trees, it stipulated that additional adornments such as tinsel, baubles, and other decorations were to be furnished by the residents of the Torfaen town and their community councillors. Giles Davies, an independent councillor representing Abersychan, stated: “I don’t want to sound like a Scrooge but my concern is what happens when the decorations blow away?” A photograph was posted by Mr Davies on X, illustrating a tree at the Varteg bus terminus with plastic baubles dislodged from its branches. He further commented: “If you do any research you’ll see that decorations affect wildlife, noise from tinsel can put birds off going to an area and it can be dangerous to dogs,” he added. He continued: “What happens if a dog or a hedgehog eats the decorations or someone puts glass on there? What monitoring is taking place, I don’t think it’s been thought through.” Mr Davies had previously voiced criticism regarding the initial decision to discontinue the provision of cut Christmas trees last year. He also raised questions concerning the practicality of decorating the trees as they mature over subsequent years. Since the planting of these trees, various community organizations, including youth groups, have participated in events dedicated to their decoration. Gaynor James, the leader of Pontypool Community Council, stated her unwillingness to address the remarks made by Mr Davies.