Honiton High Street. Photo bt Terry Ife ref mhh 6905-04-12TI

‘Style’ could replace tradition.

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

Christmas trees are likely to get the chop in Honiton this year as style is favoured over tradition.

Business leaders are contemplating scrapping the smaller displays above shop premises.

The move follows now shelved plans to replace the trees with artificial ones, with built-in lights.

After reviewing a report, compiled by contractors, Honiton and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry had a change of heart.

It now favours creating a “stylish avenue of lights” on lampposts.

Addressing the chamber’s December breakfast meeting, chairman Colin Wright revealed: “Out of 26 shops in one part of the High Street, only six had trees.”

He said this was due to a number of factors, including problems with brackets and sourcing electricity supplies for lights.

In some instances, first-floor premises were unoccupied and, in others, contractors were faced with UPVc window frames which could not be drilled through.

Another, but not as common, issue was business owners’ concerns about the cost of electricity for the lights.

Now the chamber is considering scrapping the smaller trees and investing in lamppost displays instead.

“It would create a stylish avenue of lights and is something we need a discussion about,” said Mr Wright.

The chamber provides the Christmas lights display in partnership with Honiton Town Council.

The large ‘town’ Christmas tree outside St Paul’s Church was this year sponsored by the developers of Cranbrook.