Derby council erects security cordon to protect people from christmas tree

A large cordon placed around a city's Christmas tree for "public safety" has been criticised for looking "horrible".
A wide area of fencing - described by the council as an exclusion zone - has been placed around the undecorated tree in Derby's Market Place.

People have said it is an embarrassment for the city.

Derby City Council said the barriers were there to "enable people to view the tree at a safe distance".

On social media, Anne Butler said it was a "disgusting mess" and that it would be better not to have one at all.
Daniel Birkinshaw said: "It looks awful. Why bother? It does not look festive at all. Take it down along with all the railings. Embarrassing to be from Derby."

Sadaf Lily Thould said: "My little daughter was beyond disappointed the other day. She wanted to get a close look and I had to explain we can't."
Emma Lake said it looked "utterly horrible".

A Derby City Council spokesperson said: "We all want to get into the Christmas spirit.
"As well as the Market Place tree, we've got the ice rink on the way, lights up, as well as local businesses embracing the festive period with their own displays, but our number one priority remains to be public safety, which is why these barriers are in place - to enable people to view the tree at a safe distance."

They have an ice rink on the way but probably won't allow people to use it as it might be a bit slippy, Health and Safety and all that!!!

I'd be pining for a closer look if they spruced it up a bit.

Seems fir enough.

should have put cones round it

Sounds like locals have got the needle.

You get alder bad puns on here.

just needs a bit of sprucing up

Or cones putting round it.

A Christmas tree can be dangerous, if you try putting one up yourself.

The nurses never believe you when you tell them you just fell on it.

If public safety is a concern then ban you know who from the area, and hang some fkin lights on it ..... nobody will be offended !

You clearly have the phobia afterthought - ho ho ho

To show they are with it they should put a wee doll in the image of Julian Clary on the top instead of the traditional fairy.

It's probbaly the other way around, to protect the tree from the public.  If they say that though then it suggests the council doesn't hold its citizens in a very high regard.

probably^^