Main Christmas tree goes up in St James’ Square
SOME PASSERS-BY SAY IT SHOULD BE BIGGER
GRIMSBY’S main Christmas tree is now up in St James’ Square - although some people say it is too small.
Contractors decorated the tree with lights using a hoist yesterday.
North East Lincolnshire Council say the tree is 20ft tall although some shoppers felt it looked around 15ft.
The installation comes after a tree erected in the town’s Riverhead made Grimsby the butt of jokes when comparing to other trees up and down the country.
North East Lincolnshire Council said the Riverhead Christmas tree was installed too early and was removed on Friday. It will be put back ready for the Christmas market on Saturday and Sunday.
Councillor Callum Procter, cabinet member for tourism, said: “Unfortunately, the Christmas Market tree was installed too early, and we understand that people were confused and thought this was our civic tree.
“I’m looking forward to seeing people enjoying the illuminations, the market, and the revamped St James’ Square with the civic tree and the special lighting on the minster as part of the Christmas experience.”
Passers-by gave their reaction to the main tree.
David McVarney, 75, of Corporation Road, Grimsby, said: “It is disgusting. I can hardly see it. It should be bigger. It’s not like the ones we had in previous years. But it is an improvement on the one they fetched into Riverhead the other day.”
Grandmother, Shelly Day, of St Ives Crescent, said: “It could do with some baubles. In needs to be a bit livelier not just placed there with nothing on top, especially when it is next to the minster.”
A group of ladies out shopping in Grimsby complained it was too small.
One said: “The council should think big, especially when it is in St James’
Square.” Another said: “Just wait for the vandals to get at it. But it’s not very big and the lights ought to be twinkling.”
Sean Rose said: “It is smaller than last year. But its a tree. There are more important things to concerns us just now.”
The tree was supplied by local family-run business Strawson Woodland in East Ravendale and was funded by NewLincs Development Ltd which operates the Energy from Waste plant in Stallingborough. There has been no cost to North East Lincolnshire Council.
Sharon Hunt, operations director at Newlincs, said: “We are very happy to donate the Christmas tree for another year. I hope that it will spread some festive cheer to those enjoying a spot of shopping or passing through Grimsby town centre.”
The tree erected in Grimsby Minster on the same day is 18ft tall. The minster is also hosting the Museum of the Moon, brought by The Culture house. It is free to view each day of the week except Mondays. The minster will be lit up on Thursday which is the start of late-night shopping in town.
A Great Grimsby Christmas Market will be held on Saturday and Sunday with market stalls including gifts, bath products, vegan and eco products, jewellery, hot food and other goodies.
There will be brass bands, singers and street entertainment in Riverhead Square. There will be another chance to see the 3m pre-lit Christmas tree that had been bought with the £1,000 voucher that Grimsby won in the “Revive and Thrive” competition held in 2019. The town won and spent £1,000 on the outdoor tree and a new ‘Fontaine’ illumination.
Both will be lit when all the Christmas lights are in place and lit from Thursday.
To support the market, both Cartergate car park and Grimsby Town Hall car parks will be free to use over the weekend.