Road closures for Christmas hamlet postponed

Thames Water plans to replace 1.5 miles (2.3km) of a clean water main at Christmas Common

The spirit of Christmas will be alive and well at a hamlet known for growing Christmas trees after plans to replace a water main over 15 weeks were postponed.

Thames Water previously announced rolling road closures would be in place through Christmas Common, near Watlington in Oxfordshire.

The Tree Barn farm, which has provided Christmas trees for venues including Buckingham Palace and Downing Street, warned that any road closure would be at its "very busiest" time of year for harvesting and sales.

In a new statement the utility company said the project had been postponed "following a meeting of all stakeholders" until the new year.

It plans to replace 1.5 miles (2.3km) of a clean water main in what it has called an "essential upgrade".

The Tree Barn plants 17,000 new trees each year, and said up to 2,000 cars a day visited the farm to buy trees in the weekends in the run up to Christmas.

'Essential upgrade'

Reiner Hecken, publican at the Fox and Hounds in the hamlet, also said any road closure would "devastate" local businesses.

Thames Water said: "[The postponement] is to allow for the plans to be communicated to all residents, businesses and road users and ensure the work is carried out safely and efficiently while maintaining continued access via clearly signposted diversion routes.

"This essential upgrade is being carried out due to the history of bursts.

"By replacing the aging infrastructure, we aim to significantly reduce the risk of future incidents and improve the long-term reliability of the local water supply."

The exact origins of the reasons for the name of Christmas Common are unknown.

Theories include that it was related to a Christmas truce during a Civil War battle in the area, or that it came from an old family name or the abundance of holly.