Christmas decorations which every year brighten Bradford on Avon's town bridge have been banned for health and safety reasons.
Alan Hinds, president of the Bradford on Avon Chamber of Commerce, received a letter from Wiltshire County Council contractors Mouchel Parkman last week telling him festive garlands could no longer be used on the posts on the bridge.
While strings of lights will still be allowed, the ringed decorations, made from leaves and other natural materials, have been deemed too much of a strain on the bridge's structural integrity. Mr Hinds said he did not understand how the decorations caused more damage than the huge lorries, which thunder through the town daily.
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"They say it is to maintain the structural integrity of the property but surely the potential of vehicles crashing is more than a risk," he said. "It just seems very Scrooge- like, it's like they want to cancel Christmas on the grounds of health and safety."
He said the Chamber of Commerce were very disappointed and believes the news will cause a public outcry. "We are devastated. We just feel it seems a very negative attitude to the festive decorations," he said.
"The chamber has been putting them up for more than 20 years and the festive rings are the central pieces of the decorations." He added the chamber had worked hard on making Bradford on Avon special over the Christmas period and received excellent feedback each year from locals and visitors.
Diane Holmes, clerk for Bradford on Avon Town Council said she had written to the county council to try and clarify the situation.
"It will be interesting to see whether they have carried out any scientific measures and what tests have been done," she said.
"We also have hanging baskets on the same attachments but we haven't been told about them so have written to ask if they are affected.
"It would be a shame not to have Christmas decorations. The town council always puts money towards the lights and I hope we can carry on this tradition."
A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said: "The wrought ironwork which supports the lighting on the bridge is very old and is an important feature that we wish to preserve for years to come. "Whilst the fixings themselves are sound at present, we are concerned that, in time, the decorations being hung from them may cause damage.
"They are being put under unnecessary strain by the decorations, especially in windy conditions."
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