Council to consider more artificial Christmas trees in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon borough next year
A full review of Christmas trees and lights across Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon is to be carried out early in the new year, and councillors might be minded to replicate the success of this year’s Christmas tree in Dromore, by ‘going artificial’ in other localities of the borough.
Speaking at the December ABC Council meeting, Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon complained about what he saw as a lack of Christmas lights in Armagh city centre.
The SDLP representative for Armagh DEA commented: “It is in relation to the Christmas lights. I just want to make a proposal.
“Year in, year out, we raise issues about Christmas lights in our towns and villages, and we are promised that we would make improvements. We’ve tried everything, from our own teams doing it in-house, to now erecting lights by a contractor.
“And that has been an issue in itself, whenever you go into for example Armagh city, and I know there’s been issues in Banbridge and Donaghcloney and others, Loughgall.
“Can I ask that a detailed review on our Christmas lighting provision is carried out early in the New Year, and that a paper is prepared for consideration as part of the annual budgeting process?
“We should explore ring-fencing monies from our financial reserves, to deliver a real and meaningful investment in Christmas lights across the borough for Christmas 2026.”
Alderman Paul Greenfield (DUP, Banbridge DEA) concurred with the SDLP representative: “It’s just to agree with Cllr O’Hanlon. I had raised similar issues at our Economic Development committee, about some of the towns like that have been doing some lights that haven’t been working very well this year at all.
“Also, other areas like Loughbrickland, Rathfriland, that have a severe lack of lights. Tonight, I want to second that proposal from Cllr O’Hanlon, that we bring it back early next year to the committee in our full review of Christmas.”
Alderman Mark Baxter (DUP, Lagan River DEA) suggested going down the artificial route as a possible way forward in some localities: “Just in agreement with the two colleagues that spoke before.
“I know we are going to have a follow-up meeting, I think in the new year, about the whole Christmas programme.
“One of the success stories that I’ve seen was the artificial trees, particularly the one in Dromore. So, there are success stories there, and I would like to see that probably replicated [elsewhere].
“I know there’s probably a spend there, but I think if we buy artificial trees, even for the rural villages, that’s going to obviously have a long-term saving.
“So, I really think we nearly need to consider that very strongly coming in the new year, and have an early discussion around it, so we’re not in the same position next year where there’s a shortage of trees, and we end up with trees that aren’t really up to scratch in some of the villages too.”
ABC Lord Mayor, Ald Stephen Moutray indicated a review would be carried out in the new year, as requested.