Do they know it’s Christmas at all?

That’s what some shoppers and traders may be thinking in Bordon amid a lack of festive cheer at a town shopping centre.

The halls of the Forest Centre won’t be decked with holly or any decorations this Christmas primarily because of concerns about vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

They have instead encouraged tenants to decorate their store frontages to make up for the lack of festive frivolities, so don’t expect the centre’s much-missed nutcrackers to make a return any time soon.

The decision was confirmed in a recent email to Whitehill Town Council leader, councillor Andy Tree, in a response to a query about the decorations and possible reopening of the public toilets.

The managing agent, Cyan Power CPM Limited, told Cllr Tree the owners believe “any decorations will be lost as soon as installed” because of the “very high level of vandalism” at the site.

They added that the toilets will be remain closed for the foreseeable future as the centre cannot afford the estimated £17,000 annual running costs.

The better news for the centre is that its owners expect every unit to be fully occupied within the first quarter of 2025.

Anyone needing a festive pick-me-up could always cross Pinehill Road as the Forest Players’ Young Stars of Tomorrow & Friends will lift the curtain on a Variety Showcase this Saturday (December 14).

The show will begin in the community centre at 2.30pm, tickets are £4 from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/wbtp