Christmas tree rescue plan agreed for Hawick
Hawick councillors have united to ensure that the town has a Christmas tree in place over the festive period.
Due to the need for tough budgetary decisions, Scottish Borders Council agreed to withdraw funding of £13k set aside for 11 trees in town centres.
It was move labelled a “penny-pinching Scrooge mentality” by Cameron Knox, chair of Hawick Community Council.
But when members of Hawick Common Good Fund Sub-Committee met on Wednesday, June 17, they unanimously approved a motion submitted by Hawick & Hermitage councillor Watson McAteer.
They agreed that the council’s director for Environment and Infrastructure investigate the Hawick Common Good woodlands’ assets to establish if there are suitable tree species that could be used to provide an annual Christmas tree for the town.
And if a suitable tree cannot be identified that £1,500 is allocated from sub-committee funds to cover the cost of purchasing a tree.
Councillor McAteer said: “While I’m making this motion and it is being seconded by Councillor Marshall, I am very much hoping that all elected members here are in behind and supporting something which is aimed and directed at the town that we represent. We are all very much united in that.”
Mr McAteer, convener at SBC, added: “We were all unhappy that the town was to be without a Christmas tree but recognised, reluctantly, that the council was in a very difficult position around this, not least because 47 per cent of people who completed the survey decided that spending more money on Christmas-related events was not acceptable, compared to the 39 per cent who thought it was a good idea.
“This sub-committee recognises the value of there being a Christmas tree in the town.”