Residents want rid of ‘really sad’ Christmas tree

Residents in Mexborough have petitioned the council to remove a drooping Christmas tree from Adwick Road roundabout and replace it with a larger one. The dispute matters because a local businessman has offered to fund a replacement, while the council says the existing tree is healthy and may not survive being moved.

The living tree was planted in 2022 with £1,050 of public money. Community group Spirit of Mexborough says it looks “droopy and saggy”, and petition organiser Bev Chapman argues it has not recovered since its lights were removed last January. A council arboricultural report found the tree healthy; the council says it removes trees only when necessary and relocation is unlikely to be successful. The businessman has offered to pay for a fully lit tree measuring 24ft (7.3m).