I READ in the national press that the people of Poole in Dorset are angry about the cone-shaped Christmas tree that adorns their town this year.

   Last year they had a "proper" tree, but this year, claiming that irregularly-shaped trees can be dangerous to passers-by, the local powers-that-be have gone for the modern trend of a Christmas cone. The Trades Description Act surely prevents it being called a tree.

   "Oh, Christmas cone, oh, Christmas cone" doesn't have the same ring about it somehow.

   I'd bet that Queen Victoria would not have been amused that her beloved Prince Albert's idea of decorating homes with a tree had been cast aside.

   As last year, there are two Christmas cones in Nantwich (and I hear that our former partner town of Crewe has three!).

   True, there is also a real tree in Nantwich, but did it have to have that ugly fencing around it? Nearby seats, for instance, aren't protected with fencing to  prevent someone walking into them. And do the

powers-that-be think the barrier will stop determined vandals attacking the tree? Or climbing it?

   Unlike last year, when both Christmas cones were placed on the island between Swine Market and Oat Market, the monstrosities have been split up. To lessen the impact?

   The one placed next to St Mary's Parish Church is "protected" by green plastic fencing with a Cheshire East Council logo on each panel.

   The greenery coating the cones has been likened to imitation football pitch surfacing material (above, right). At least at night, this cannot really be seen when the strings of plain white Christmas lights spiralling round the cones are switched on. Your eyes adjusting to the bright lights tend to not to see the green "matting".

   At least there aren't any visible restraining cables with the cones. All the fixing down obviously takes place inside the structure before the "matting" and the lights are added.

Christmas? Bah, humbug!