Height of stupidity: Cardiff council apologise after ‘40m’ tree falls short at 40 feet
A BLUNDERING council spent £30,000 on a 40-metre Christmas tree from China – but the size got lost in translation and it turned out to be just 40ft.
Glistening '40m' Cardiff Christmas tree falls short at 40 feet
The tree was hired from the Far East for Cardiff city centre, despite the council having been offered real ones for free.
It had promised a “spectacular” towering 40-metre (130ft) tree to take pride of place among its festive celebrations.
But when it was put up over the weekend it turned out to be just a fraction of the promised height.
I think it’s a joke the council spent this much money on a tree
One council worker said: “The tree has caused a lot of embarrassment.
“We think the dimensions got lost in translation or someone can’t tell the difference between feet and metres.
“A lot of people have commented on it saying that it looks ugly and doesn’t feel very Christmassy.”
Shopper Rachel Ryan, 30, said: “I think it’s a joke the council spent this much money on a tree in the first place – now they look even more stupid.
Blundering Cardiff council spent £30K on a 40ft christmas tree that was supposed to be 40 metres
The council spent £30,000 of taxpayers money on the imported tree from China
The #Christmas Tree has divided opinion, & yes it's not 40m! But it sure looked Christmassy last night! #Cardiff ������ pic.twitter.com/biRbAqLqGu
— City of Cardiff (@cardiffcouncil) November 27, 2016
The council has promised a 40 metre tree
Holly reveals that she has already put up the Christmas tree
“The tree is nothing special and I think a lot of people would have preferred a real one anyway.”
Cardiff Conservative councillor Jayne Cowen said: “To spend £30,000 of hard-working taxpayers’ money hiring an artificial tree for three years is beyond belief.”