THE pathetic excuse for a Christmas tree in Peterlee (Echo, Dec 3) was symptomatic of the pathetic excuse for a town centre.

The original tree was sparse and unattractive, just like the town centre. Shops are closed, some with grey metal shutters, making it an unwelcome place for shopping, not just at Christmas, but all the year round.

There has been promise after promise of improvements.

Pretty pictures and plans have been produced. All this has come to nothing and the town centre is deteriorating and crumbling away.

Maybe the town centre, as well as the tree, needs some of the spirit of Christmas which changed and invigorated Scrooge in Dickens’ famous story. Scrooge was reluctant to give Bob Cratchitt the day off for Christmas.

That tree is symbolic of the reluctant attitude to provide anything for Peterlee.

A change of attitude is needed. The people of Peterlee deserve a vibrant and welcoming place to shop.

So, modern day Scrooge, get some Christmas spirit all the year round. Now we’ve been given a real tree how about a real shopping centre?

Maureen Taylor-Gooby, Peterlee.