City Council root for tree planting project over celebrations for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Salisbury City Council has announced they aren't planning any local celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June this year, but will mark the occasion by"investing in the city's environment."

This year marks 70 years of service from Her Majesty The Queen who will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after taking to the throne on the 6th February 1952.

To celebrate, the Platinum Jubilee Weekend will see a four day bank holiday in the UK from Thursday 2nd June to Sunday the 5th June with celebrations and street parties set to take place across the country.

Instead of a celebratory event for the city, Salisbury City Council plans to mark the occasion by investing in the city’s environment.

Speaking on behalf of the joint administration, Cllr Annie Riddle said, "In addition to planting a Jubilee Avenue of trees across Hudson’s Field, and on top of our usual tree maintenance programme, we have decided to spend an extra £15,000 on the first stages of a citywide tree planting project to help create a greener, healthier future for ourselves, our children and our wildlife.

"We are committed to continued funding this project for the lifetime of this administration.

“We could have decided to splash this money on a tea party in the Market Place. Here today, gone tomorrow.

“But finances are as tight for us as they are for our residents, and we preferred, in line with the climate change and environmental priorities that voters spelled out to us before last May’s elections, to create something of more lasting value.

“We have been encouraged to hear that a lot of street parties are already being planned, and we would urge all our communities to get involved in celebrating the Jubilee in their own way.”

Responding to the news, Conservative group leader Cllr Charles McGrath said, "An event marking HM the Queen's Platinum Jubilee would be a great opportunity for Salisbury residents to come together and celebrate at the heart of the city.

"Ideas for such an event, including a tea party on the Guildhall Square, have been discussed by councillors over the last few months and were met with considerable cross-party support.

"While we're more than aware of some fantastic community events being planned across Salisbury, it's disappointing that the City Council's leadership group has not budgeted for this in their recently passed budget. I would urge them to reconsider and give the city of Salisbury the chance to mark this once-in-a-lifetime occasion."