Christmas Light Regulation Turning UK Humbug

[ElfBot]

In the name of health and safety many British towns may have to forego festive lighting this holiday season. According to a report in the Telegraph stringent new regulations and huge insurance premium increases could make Christmas lights scarce. This year councils must use a pressure gauge to individually test every bolt holding a cable [...]

More from Defend Christmas... (http://defendchristmas.com/2007/10/16/christmas-light-regulation-turning-uk-humbug/)

[Ladybugkisses]

That horrible.

Toya

[Sifreynir]

On top of the politically correct jobsworth attitude, its also lack of funds.

The village where I grew up the council stopped funding the christmas lights and for years we didn't have any, only the town centre got them. The shop keepers there put their hands in their pockets and had the streets lit up again and they even got a tree. It made it so much better.

I am pleased to say that our town centre is usually lit up. I haven't heard anything that bad yet.
They usually have a tree which has a 'sponsor' a light on the tree. So you give to charity to light all the bulbs which I think is quite nice.

Shame more councils can't think along the same lines

[Jeff Westover]

I notice this trend in the news from the UK every year...the fund raising usually starts in August as do the stories about councils not having funds to light up for Christmas.

[whychristmas]

It's PC gone mad I tells ya! And it hit my town last year...

The 'official council' lights were in half the main street and there was a 'grand switch on' which was laughable. Didn't go myself but know many people who did. There was meant to be a top quality snow machine (the closest we normally get to the white stuff) and apparently it was up in the 1st floor windows of the council building and was a foam thing and a total of about 3 bubbles/flakes hit the street!!!

The local businesses got together and lit up the rest of the main street that the council couldn't/wouldn't do - and the unoffical end was much better!

The insurance thing has really hit local 5th November fireworks displays over here with a lot of displays now not happening as the insurance is just too much :-(

[Sifreynir]

The insurance thing has really hit local 5th November fireworks displays over here with a lot of displays now not happening as the insurance is just too much :-(

that sort of thing is hitting traditions all over the uk isn't it. It threatened the Beltane Fire Festival in Edinburgh. They had to jump through hoops in order for the council to let them do it, and folk come from all over for that.

Sad, very sad.

[Jane D]

Can't say I've noticed any change in our lights locally - our local council only paid out £20,000 on new lights the year before last, so I guess they want to get their [or our] money's worth and put them up! I would HATE them to stop using lights - I always get a thrill when they first appear on the lampposts and it is a Christmas tradition that my husband and I go to late evening shopping one night after they are switched on just so that we can see them in all their glory after dark!

Have to say, as a dedicated conservationist, I had to struggle a little with my conscience over putting up our own lights, but decided that, since our house has every possible energy-saving device, my husband and I do not run a car and hardly ever fly abroad, we are owed a bit of 'conservation credit'! At least domestic lights these days are mostly low wattage and use hardly any power.