Wick could be without a tree this Christmas
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FEARS that no star will shine over Wick’s winter wonderland this year are growing as the public faces a bleak festive season without a Christmas tree.
Following the loss of the traditional Hogmanay street party last year, a dampener could once again be thrown on the town’s yuletide break — despite its New Year party being revived.
It was revealed at a meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council on Monday that no Christmas tree has been ordered by the community council’s festive lights sub-group as the traditional town centre space was expected to be a building site for the new Highland Council offices.
However, construction is not due to start until early next year following leasing problems — leaving a gap in the festive town centre with only two months left to fill it.
"We thought the space was going to be a building site over Christmas so we didn’t order a tree," Christmas lights sub-group chairwoman Wendy Campbell told the John O’Groat Journal.
"But now that the council offices are not going to start until next year, we have a gap."
All may not be lost as one local woman has revealed she may step in to save the seasonal spirit.
Katy Gunn, of High Street party and fancy dress shop KG Events, understands why the Christmas lights committee did not go though their usual process of getting a tree but is hoping to provide some form of consolation.
"We are trying to get just a small tree – just six to eight foot," she said.
"But we are not sure where to put it in the town.
"We may ask the council if it can go in the traditional space or next to the town hall, or elsewhere."
Mrs Gunn said she and a friend were organising a town centre traders’ fun day for November 24, which would include entertainment in the Market Square, as the sub-group moved from the town centre to the Assembly Rooms last year for health and safety reasons.
The lack of a tree came up at the monthly meeting when members were informed that work on the new base for the local authority would not start until January 2013.
Initial plans had the work starting this month and would have made the Market Place a building site for the foreseeable future.
The sub-group therefore did not pick out a tree earlier in the year – taking it in good faith that there would be nowhere to put it.
It emerged on Monday night that the open space traditionally used for the tree in front of Wetherspoons pub would now be free following delays in getting a lease signed for the relocation of workers during the multi-million pound redevelopment.
Community councillor Doreen Turner said it was too late to look into sourcing a tree.
"We had to make a decision," she said. "But we still be putting our street Christmas lights up."
Mrs Turner said the tree was normally selected in February because forestry workers removed the smaller trees around it to give it a chance to grow properly.
"If you put up a tree that is flat on three sides then the public wouldn’t be too impressed," she said.
Hogmanay and Peoples Party Yearly (HAPPY) chairman Alan Farquhar, who revived the group following its demise last year, was disappointed that the town would be lacking in traditional Christmas cheer.
He asked if Highland Council would be willing to get a Christmas tree for the town "at this late stage".
Councillor Neil MacDonald, one of the town’s three members on the authority, has agreed to look into possibilities. But even if a tree is put up, there may be less sparkle to it.
"Our tree lights were a bit faulty last year so we have got new ones on our agenda but not for purchasing this year as we had ruled out that there was going to be a tree," said Mrs Turner.
But there was some good news during the festive talk on Monday as Mr Farquhar announced preparations were under way for the revival of the Hogmanay party, with top local cover band Jude set to headline.
