Diggle Christmas tree complaints over costs and size

The new Diggle Christmas tree, planted on the embankment facing the mill on Huddersfield Road, is the first permanent tree to stand where many temporary cut trees had been placed over the years.

The Diggle Village Association (DVA), which worked hard to get the permanent tree, said the initiative was more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

However, it revealed the tree cost £1,450 to plant with the council - and not all are impressed with its height and price tag.

Taking to social media, residents said the tree will be "perfect in 10 years" but that there is "something drastically wrong" with the cost.

"You can get a beautiful rooted tree that will last for many years and much larger for an awful lot less", one woman wrote.

Another said: "Why on earth has it cost that much?"

Locals agreed that £145 would have been a "realistic" price and found £1,450 to be "excessive".

"It's 'tree'mendousley expensive", one man wrote while another woman asked: "is it April 1st?"

"A 20-foot Norway spruce costs £600. A six-foot tree would be £50 max, so 'we' are paying the extra £1,400 for what exactly?", another comment read.

But the council has insisted that the tree is "more than" six feet high and said larger living trees do tend to cost in the region of thousands of pounds.

Residents have criticised the size and cost of the tree (Image: Emma Doherty)

The DVA said the permanent tree was only slightly more expensive than the temporary option since the concrete base needed to be fixed (£500) and it needed to buy another cut tree (£750), totalling £1,250.

Instead, the DVA said the permanent tree was preferred and that the £1,450 cost includes labour, electricity hook-up and lights - 50 per cent of which was covered by Diggle's local councillors.

In a statement, the DVA said it had "no choice" over the selection of the tree as it was supplied by the local authority and planted on council land.

This meant residents were unable to plant their own and had to use the council's certified contractors, "hence the price".

The spokesperson added: "Because the quote was so high we were very reluctant initially, but fifty per cent of the £1,450 costs were met by our local Cllr Pam Byrne, so we agreed to pay the difference.

"We wanted to ensure that Diggle village had a Christmas tree this year, however, we realise that if we wish to plant any more trees on council land in future, we would not be able to refuse their conditions, so we will have to consider alternative arrangements."

Cllr Hannah Roberts, the council's new cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said the local authority came to an agreement with the DVA to plant a living tree for sustainability and environmental purposes.

She said said: “More communities are opting for living trees, although small to start with they are more environmentally friendly, and have paid for themselves after two years.

“The tree is the largest recommended – it is more than 6ft high and will get bigger as it grows.

“Bigger trees run to thousands of pounds and are far less likely to successfully take to their new location."

Cllr Roberts said the costs include the purchase, delivery and excavation work for the tree carried out by council staff.

She explained "specialist equipment" was required to fit an irrigation pipe and electrical extension to make way for the lights display.

Cllr Roberts added: “Hopefully, the tree will take quickly and grow and mature in the years to come."

Conservative councillor for Saddleworth North, Pam Byrne, confirmed many Christmas decorations are financed by Saddleworth councillors, including the new natural tree in Diggle and the lights and trees in Dobcross.

She said: "The Diggle community made a most generous donation to their tree and lights.

"I had no input in any new siting of this tree. It is a lovely tree and given a couple of years will be even more beautiful."