Christmas Lights - Red tape in the UK

Christmas lights - Red tape in the UK

• Problems for Christmas Lights
• Examples of Red Tape Curtailing Christmas Lights
• The Underlying Reason for Red Tape - Litigation
• Hull City Council Bans Santa Hats
• Philippines Declares War on Carol Singers
• Infamous Conker Ban - Cumbria, England 2004
• Fake Bonfires
• Other Cases of Red Tape

Problems for Christmas Lights in the UK

There is a gloomy Christmas ahead for high streets in the UK.  The reason is that traditional illuminations are being snuffed out by 'Jobsworths' waving health and safety rules.  Another aspect is that extra constraints and provisions make insurance premiums too expensive for councils.

Scrooge like insurance companies want strict compliance with health and safety guidelines.  This means expensive equipment to test the safety of lights and their fittings.  For example, workmen can no longer use ladders to erect the lights, them must hire hydraulic platforms instead.  For centauries Christmas lights have been strung from lampposts - no more, they have been deemed unsafe for hanging illuminations.

Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: 'The festive period is looking darker and bleaker year on year – Britain is facing a Christmas blackout this year.  The sense of pride a good festive display can instil on a town centre is immeasurable. Spiralling costs and exhaustive safety concerns are ruining the festive spirit.'  See some real Christmas lights here

Examples of Red Tape Curtailing Christmas Lights

Shops in Clevedon, Bristol, UK, have abandoned their plans for illuminations because North Somerset Council told them that lights can no longer be attached to lampposts or buildings.  Bob Hughes, of local traders' association, said: 'We have also been told that we cannot attach lights or motifs to the lampposts along the street as we have done in previous years.'

The council Jobsworth says:  'There is a code of practice which has to be followed regarding the installation of Christmas lights. The lighting columns are concrete and it is not possible to attach lights to them.'

In another case from Bodmin, Cornwall, the council has been ordered to use a pressure gauge to test all 150 bolts which hold Christmas lights.  This would cost the authority £1,200 in training fees, plus their wages and the cost of the equipment.  Also, to test the bolts the roads have to be closed for a day during testing and for another day while the lights are actually fitted.

The lights cost £7,000 last year but the chamber of commerce has ruled that the increased cash cannot be found. Kim Roscoe, council spokesman, said: 'Health and safety requirements have greatly increased the costs. Bodmin will not be the same without its Christmas lights, and it is particularly galling as last year was the best ever.'

In Sandwell, Worcestershire, traders have been told that lights cannot be hung across the widths of roads, because of fears that cables may break.

Scarborough Council has planned an 'electric parade' with a pantomime theme to make up for the disappointment of last year's celebrity switch-on, which was cancelled because of police objections on various health and safety issues.

The Underlying Reason for Red Tape - Litigation

A spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers said that because of an increasingly litigious culture the cost of the liability cover was increasing.  They said: 'Insurance is a risk-based product and a high proportion of that risk is liability. Councils are protecting themselves from being sued by a private parties.'  See more instances of 'Jobsworths'.

Hull City Council Bans Santa Hats

Waste disposal operatives [binmen] have been banned from wearing Santa Claus hats this Christmas period apparently on health grounds.

The refuse collectors in Kingston upon Hull, UK, have worn the traditional red hats for several years.  City council scrooges think that it does not create a professional impression of the council.

Angry refuse collectors have told the newspapers that, 'It doesn't look like anyone can escape the PC brigade this year. Our Santa hats have always brought a bit of festive cheer to local households. We loved seeing the faces of excited kids watching us from the window and laughing at our hats. It's been a Christmas tradition for years but not anymore.'

A spokesman for the East Yorkshire city reportedly has said, 'Employees can wear Christmas hats in their own time. Wearing them during work time does not create a professional impression. Further, there can be health and safety implications should hats get in the way of dangerous machinery operation.'  See more cases of banned hats

Philippines Declares War on Carol Singers

Red tape does not occur just in the UK.  There will be many silent nights this Christmas [2007] in the Philippines capital Manila, as officials are rounding up anyone found singing carols in the streets. The music ban has been introduced to stop children risking their lives by performing at busy junctions before knocking on drivers' windows and asking for money. Those found breaking the law will be handed over to welfare officers reports the Metro newspaper.

Infamous Conker Ban - Cumbria, England 2004

There were two parts to this conker debacle.  Firstly, South Tyneside council chopped down six healthy horse chestnut trees, merely because children threw sticks and stones into the tree in the hope of dislodging a conker or two.

Secondly the Department for Education and Skills sent a memo saying that conkers should be banned because they could hit pupils in the eye.  One head teacher, Mr Halfpenny even bought goggles for his pupils to play conkers within safety guidelines.

In the cold light of day banning the age old tradition on safety grounds seemed absurd, and the debate that the case raised made people think twice before using red tape to stop children having harmless fun.

Other Cases of Red Tape

• Midlothian council left the lights on at a disused school in case unauthorised intruders tripped over in the dark.
• Firemen in Essex, England were warned that they faced disciplinary action after sleeping on their fire station floor because it was 'an unauthorised rest facility.'
• A charity Easter duck race at Lymm, Warrington, England was cancelled for health and safety reasons.  The alternative would have been to pay the council £3,000 to close the roads.  This would have been more than the charity duck race would have raised.
  
  Chairman James Phipps said: 'We're disappointed that this has had to happen after 15 incident-free years. I don't hold the council responsible - it comes down to a wider paranoia about litigation.
  
  The local comedian said that they weren't using red tape but duct tape!  (duck tape).
• From the other side of the fence.  In December 2005, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee announced that two officials had been arrested for for taking bribes for the purchase of - red tape.  In this true story, the officials were found to be taking kickbacks of $1 per roll.  The worst part of the affair to our thinking was that one small department could buy 100,000 rolls of red tape!
• In Tajikistan (ex region of USSR ), visitors require 11 permits to gain admittance.

Silly Bans Spread to Pancake Day

A traditional pancake race has been scrapped because of fears over health and safety.

The event was revived 11 years ago and since then crowds have gathered in the centre of Ripon, North Yorkshire, UK, on Shrove Tuesday, reports the Daily Mail. Schoolchildren run down a cobbled street flipping pancakes after the start is signalled by the ringing of the cathedral's ancient 'pancake bell' at 11 am. Organisers reluctantly scrapped the popular event this year because of mounting costs and bureaucracy linked to health and safety rules.

Organiser Councillor Bernard Bateman added, 'Health and safety has just gone too far. It makes you think twice about even trying to hold events like this, even though they are extremely popular, especially amongst children. The main issue with health and safety is the cobbled street people could slip on, but it causes us so much trouble just for a little issue. This stupidity never happened previously. It's a shame that these issues stop the children enjoying such a traditional event.'

Will and Guy can't help but agree with Mr Bateman.

More funny online stories for December

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