A town centre’s disheveled Christmas tree has finally been taken down after 130 days.
Residents in the town of Guiseley, near Leeds, were baffled why the 20ft Spruce in their market square was still standing just three weeks before Easter.
The tree was first put up on November 15, 2024 and hauled down by Leeds City Council on Monday, 83 days into the New Year.
Locals launched a campaign to chop down the Spruce after it began to brown and become an eyesore.
Paul Alderson, 38, who lives near the square, said: ‘It’s not too much to ask for a Christmas tree to be removed by Easter.
‘I’m hoping that the council won’t do this again, because it had to be chased up last year too.
‘It was a great tree, but it has somewhat died back and browned now. You could forgive someone for thinking it had been forgotten.’
The former councillor for the area said he got in touch with the local authority after hearing a wave of complaints.
Paul said the tree was financed by the Outer North West Community Committee, with the council billing £500 for installation and removal costs.
The tree was decorated by the Guiseley Lights team, which raises money to brighten the town each Christmas.
Paul continued: ‘The council has received the money, so they should fulfil the service.
‘It is disappointing and concerning that it has taken members of the public to complain for something to be done.
‘The tree has always been funded by community funds, made available to spend on our local area, so it’s no different to paying someone for a service upfront and them taking the money and not carrying out the work.’
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: ‘The council’s present contractual arrangements for Christmas trees is to use a single contractor for supply, installation, and removal.
‘It is not always possible to remove trees immediately after Christmas, but they are removed as promptly as possible and if required council staff may support from time to time in this process.
‘This particular tree has now been removed.’
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