Cinderford, a town in Gloucestershire, is usually full of eye-catching lights for Christmas, but this year things are a little bit different.
Signs and decorations including shooting stars and snowmen were attached to 33 lampposts around the town in previous years, but this Christmas the local councillors were told they needed to stress test each of the lampposts before the displays could be put up. This was claimed to be a required health and safety check to ensure that the lampposts could take the weight of the decorations.
It was estimated this would cost around £2 000, an amount the council decided they could not afford.
Instead, this year Christmas fairy lights have been wrapped around lampposts in an unfortunate attempt to brighten up the town for Christmas.
Many in the town have expressed confusion and dismay at the lack of Christmas lights with one man commenting, "I was shocked when I saw the lights being put up on Sunday. I thought they were going to be an addition to the usual lights that we have, but then I was told that was it for Cinderford and no more would be going up. People have been walking past and just shaking their heads".
The decision was defended by Ken Pitt, street lighting manager, who said that last year one decorated lamppost had been found to be corroded and "with the added weight of the decoration, this was extremely dangerous and could have caused a serious accident".
HSE festive myth busting!
Judith Hackitt, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Chairwoman cleared this up, adding, "Here we go again... it is nonsense to suggest that lampposts need to be stress tested before fairy lights can be put up".
The HSE are keeping track of seasonal stories in the press that mention health and safety as a reason for something to be cancelled or restricted. You can read more at hse.gov.uk.
