CHRISTMAS trees are returning to parts of Pontypool this festive season after street decorations were withdrawn in previous years due to vandalism.

Trees had been replaced by Christmas lights in certain locations after being damaged by vandals, town chiefs were told.

This year, Pontypool Community Council look set to splash around £20,000 on Christmas trees.

They will be displayed at 10 or more locations – including The Ellipse in Griffithstown, Pontypool Working Men’s Club, Talywain pensioners’ hall and near Varteg Cemetery.

Yesterday [Nov 18], Pontypool Community Council discussed its Christmas tree budget for 2015.

Council figures show that each tree costs about £2,000 each, including erection costs and lights.

Gaynor James, the chairwoman of Pontypool Community Council events committee, endorsed the budget allocation saying: “I think it’s good if you’ve got a community that hasn’t had a tree for five years. It’s for the kids. You walk down the road and there’s a Christmas tree. I know it costs, but Christmas is only once a year.”

A report that was circulated to the events committee yesterday, revealed how historically Christmas trees had been provided across the whole of Pontypool.

Trees were replaced by Christmas lights in particular in areas where they had been vandalised, the report showed. But members of the community council suggested in December 2014 that areas which did not have trees should have them again.

An expenditure breakdown provided to the events committee showed that buying and putting up the trees cost around £1,700.

In addition, dressing the trees with lights costs up to £600 and another £300 can be spent on new lights if required, meaning each tree comes with a £2,120 price tag on average.

In total, the community council expects to spend £20,420 on Christmas trees this year, the breakdown showed.

Members of Pontypool Community Council were asked to make a note of the allocated Christmas tree budget at a public meeting yesterday.