Town tree was worth the wait
MOUNTAIN Ash has got its new Christmas tree – but it’s been vandalised almost immediately.
Now the town has gone into “tree watch” to keep it safe in future.
The community’s tree was put in place at Rhos Square in the town centre, after people initially thought a tree decorated in past years – resembling more of a festive twig after it was drastically cut back – was all they were getting in 2016.
Rhondda Cynon Taf council quickly responded by saying Mountain Ash was getting a 20ft tree yards away – and it didn’t disappoint when it arrived earlier this week.
The tree was donat- ed to the council at no cost, while lights and a ground socket was funded through market income allocated to the town. The council is paying for electricity costs.
But just hours after it was put up, the tree was vandalised with RCT council leader Andrew Morgan, who is also the local councillor for Mountain Ash West, tweeting a photo showing lights from the tree had been pulled off
Now, he has called for the town to keep an eye on it.
In Tweets on Thursday, he wrote: “Second night – Mountain Ash Christmas Tree, be grateful if residents passing through town later can keep an eye, after last night’s vandalism.”
He added: “Hugely impressed by messages had off people in town this evening on ‘tree watch’ making sure our Christmas Tree not damaged for second night.”
The tree, placed yards away from the iconic statue of legendary runner Guto Nyth Bran, will take centre stage at Mountain Ash’s Christmas event on Saturday, December 10.