‘Too twee pink tree just not white for Christmas’

Pink mist: the offending Christmas tree decorations. Photograph: Josh Loeb

This is the bubble gum pink Christmas tree that has divided opinion in Stoke Newington after its garish decorations were unilaterally imposed on the locality as part of the council’s Make Hackney Sparkle campaign.

Stoke Newington Business Association and the Stoke Newington Fire Station carry out year-round maintenance of the coniferous tree in Church Street, and the association has in previous years decked it out in traditional festive colours.

But this Christmas Hackney Council insisted on taking charge of the colour scheme, leaving business leaders tickled pink.

Stoke Newington Business Association Chair Rosanne Berry said: “People have been laughing at it. If people enjoy it, it’s all well and good, but I would have been happier if Hackney Council had added to what we’ve done rather than replaced it.”

She said there had been a lack of consultation over the decorations but praised the festive lights on Stoke Newington High Street as “fabulous”.

‘Tutu factory’

Richard Scotford, Sales Director at estate agents Next Move, whose office is located opposite the tree, described it as looking “like the aftermath of simultaneous explosions in a tutu factory and a highlighter pen storage facility”.

Campaigning newsagent Hamdy Shahein called the council’s decorations “absolutely ridiculous”.

In the pink

But not everyone thinks Church Street’s Christmas tree looks ugly in pink.

Vasvie Osman of Camia Italian Delicatessen said: “It looks nice, and it will look even nicer when it snows.”

The council has installed Christmas trees in four other locations as part of the scheme, funded through £150,000 in private sponsorship – money that has been put towards buying Christmas lights and funding other aspects of the Make Hackney Sparkle scheme.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration Councillor Guy Nicholson said: “The idea behind the trees was to reflect Hackney’s thriving creativity and to bring  visitors to our high streets.

“The designs, like any, may divide opinion, but at least people are talking about it, going to see it and bringing business to our high streets at the same time.”

Note: This article was changed at 12.32pm on 4 December to reflect the fact the £150,000 quoted was used to fund other aspects of the Make Hackney Sparkle scheme as well as the Christmas trees.