Update on Treeton Christmas Lamppost Decorations

2 October, 2026

Treeton Parish Council has taken the difficult decision not to install the usual Christmas tree decorations on lampposts this year.

We appreciate that this will be disappointing to some residents. The Christmas decorations have historically been well received by many people in the village and have become a familiar part of Treeton at Christmas. At the same time, we recognise that others have not supported the display, and we have listened carefully to the views that residents have shared with us.

There are a number of factors that have contributed to this year’s decision.

The number of lampposts that can be used for Christmas decorations has been reduced by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) on safety grounds. This would have a significant impact on the overall display, as we would no longer be able to provide the same coverage across the village.

We also received a large number of negative comments and complaints following last year’s display, particularly about the quality and appearance of the decorations. A number of residents commented that the lights were not bright enough. This was largely because the displays had to be battery powered, as there is no access to mains electricity from the lampposts.

The Parish Council has taken these comments seriously. We want any future Christmas display to be something that looks good, is appropriate for the village and represents good value for money.

There is also an important financial consideration. Treeton Parish Council operates with a considerably smaller Parish Precept than some of the surrounding parishes. The figures published by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council show the following Parish Precepts:

• Treeton: £72,100
• Aston-cum-Aughton: £479,494
• Brinsworth: £580,059

This significant difference means that Treeton Parish Council has to manage its available funds differently. We have a responsibility to ensure that expenditure provides good value for the residents of Treeton, while also ensuring that sufficient funds remain available for the other important services, facilities and responsibilities that the Parish Council supports.

The amount paid through the Parish Precept by an individual household is also considerably lower in Treeton. For a Band D property, the current Parish Precept is approximately £74.97 in Treeton, compared with approximately £245.65 in Brinsworth. This means that the Band D Parish Precept in Brinsworth is more than three times that of Treeton.

This difference is important when considering how the Parish Council uses its available funds. Treeton has to make careful choices about where its resources are spent. However, this decision is not about reducing expenditure or saving money, the Parish Council is prepared to invest in an appropriate Christmas display where we believe the result will provide a worthwhile benefit to the village and represent good value for money.

The Parish Council has been exploring a number of alternative options for Christmas decorations. Unfortunately, we have not yet found a suitable alternative that would allow us to create the kind of Christmas display that would add to the festive feel of Treeton in the way we would like, while also representing good value for money for residents.

Unlike some neighbouring parishes, including Aston, Treeton Parish Council does not currently have its own storage facilities or a suitable site with a mains electricity connection. This creates additional challenges when it comes to storing and powering Christmas decorations and can add considerably to the cost of any display.

One option that has received serious consideration is moving away from a large number of individual lamppost displays and instead creating a single, more prominent Christmas display in a central location, potentially around the War Memorial.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is currently developing proposals for improvements to the War Memorial as part of a wider borough project. As part of the proposals, the provision of an electricity supply at the War Memorial has been suggested.

However, these proposals have not yet been agreed or finalised, and there is no guarantee that the project will ultimately go ahead or that an electricity supply will be included.

If the RMBC project does proceed and an electricity supply is provided, this could give the Parish Council an exciting opportunity to create a more substantial focal point for Christmas in the village. Access to mains power would also allow us to consider brighter and more effective lighting without the limitations of battery powered displays.

If the proposed RMBC project does not go ahead, or an electricity supply is not provided, the Parish Council will continue to explore other options for creating a suitable Christmas display in Treeton. Our aim remains to find an approach that is practical, sustainable and represents good value for money, while providing a display that the village can be proud of.

We want to stress that this has been a difficult decision, and it has certainly not been taken because the Parish Council does not value Christmas decorations or the enjoyment they bring to the village.

We are committed to ensuring that Treeton has a Christmas display that our whole community can be proud of in the future. Rather than simply repeating the same approach, we believe this is an opportunity to look at how we can provide something different and better for the village.

We know that residents will have different views on this decision, and we respect that. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts with the Parish Council.

We will keep residents updated as our plans develop. Our commitment is to find a sustainable and cost effective way of bringing a Christmas display back to Treeton that the village can genuinely be proud of.