Council accused of 'penny-pinching Scrooge-mentality' following decision to axe Christmas trees
Last updated 26th May 2026
Scottish Borders Council is being accused of a "penny-pinching Scrooge-mentality".
It follows its decision to axe the provision of Christmas trees to communities across the region in a bid to save £13,000 a year.
Hawick Community Council has today (Tuesday) released a statement saying it's "extremely" disappointed and announced it will discuss the issue at its meeting next month.
Chairman Cameron Knox said: "This expense now falls to the Community Council to pick up.
"However, be assured that Hawick, through the Community Council, will have a Christmas tree for this Christmas and beyond.”
The move - first revealed in February - came at the same time as the local authority announced council tax bills in the Borders would increase by 8.5 per cent from April, and followed a ten per cent rise the year before.
Mr Knox added: “It’s extremely disappointing that SBC has taken this penny-pinching Scrooge-mentality regarding supplying Christmas trees to the Border towns."
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Hawick Community Council is meeting at the Lesser Town Hall on Monday, June 8th, at 6.30pm, and adds it "would encourage as many towns folk as possible to come along and express your views".
It's not the first time Christmas trees have hit the headlines.
In 2023, Scottish Borders Council was forced to remove and replace a number of fir trees after they fell short of expectations - with some estimated to measure a little over half of the ordered height.
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Concerns have also been raised about the latest cuts in Peebles, with one source telling us: "I think there will be uproar across the Borders about it."
In a statement sent to the community council there, the local authority says "there is no longer a budget to facilitate the supply of Christmas trees".
But it adds: "We recognise how important festive displays are to local communities and want to assure you that, while we can no longer provide Christmas trees, the council will continue to support the practical installation of a Christmas tree in locations that have previously received a tree, should you wish to self-fund a tree in your community."
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