A group of Knaresborough businesses has said it will put up Christmas trees in the town this year instead of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade.
The chamber has traditionally installed about 65 four-foot high trees on shopfronts and buildings around the town.
But local businesses said the chamber had indicated it was no longer able to do so and therefore they had stepped in.
A chamber meeting last week saw numerous people walk out and board positions left unfilled following an acrimonious vote not to set up a Business Improvement District.
Two local business owners, Annie Wilkinson-Gill of the Crystal Buddha and Natalie Horner of Sid Horner and Son, said they had taken the lead on the Christmas tree project and have set up a Facebook page for businesses to place orders.
The two women said they had made a completely fresh start, ordering the trees from Stockeld Park as well as new solar powered lights.
Ms Horner said:
“Chamber said they were going to cancel the trees this year as sadly they weren’t able to do them, so a few of us independent business owners decided to come together as it would be such a shame for Knaresborough not to have Christmas trees.
“This is a really huge community project and so many wonderful businesses have come together to make it happen.”
The trees will be put up by volunteers during November.
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The pair of business owners are also hoping to use the new Knaresborough Business Collective Facebook page to organise other events and projects.
The Stray Ferret tried to contact members of the chamber but had not received a reply by the time of publication.
