CHRISTMAS is fast approaching and Burnham-on-Sea will enjoy an extra piece of decoration this year after councillors agreed to install a second tree in the town.

Problems with the previous location, outside the Victoria Hotel, meant other areas of the town were being considered.

But new owners of the hotel attended the meeting to reassure the council issues had been resolved and to extend the offer of having a tree on their premises.

Town clerk Tatiana Cant said: “We considered putting the tree on the southern end of the town, near the water feature, in order to promote Christmas festivities in that end of the town.

“We visited the hotel again and found that the location was better and that the problems had all been resolved.

“Why not have a three at both ends of the town? It would spread the cheer north and south of the High Street and it would support the traders of both ends.”

Councillors agreed that having two trees would be the best option.

Councillor Peter Burridge-Clayton agreed with the plans but said the council might want to consider installing an electricity box at the second location to make future events easier.

Cllr Nick Tolley said: “It’s a really good idea, brings Christmas from one end of the town to the other. But the switch-on event should still take place at the Victoria Hotel.”

Cllr Phil Harvey agreed and said the biggest tree should be placed at the hotel. He expressed concerns that the weather caused problems for the tree when it was last placed at the southern end of the High Street.

The big tree would cost about £250 and the smaller tree would be around £150, the meeting heard.