VOTE: Bah humbug - decorations just have to come down
PENSIONERS have expressed dismay at having decorations from a communal hall Christmas tree removed by Arun District Council on health-and-safety grounds.
Residents of Olivier Court sheltered housing scheme in Chichester Road feel their festive spirt was severely dampened when officers took down the carefully-placed tree decorations last week.
Seventy-year-old Tony Foyle explained his fellow residents in the 24 flats were left outraged after the tree, which had been used without incident for many years, was suddenly considered a health risk.
"Everyone is up in arms about this – we feel really bad they were taken away, leaving just a bare Christmas tree. This is just becoming a nanny state," said Mr Foyle, who was formerly a health-and-safety inspector at Butlins in Bognor Regis.
He added: "This is supposedly being done on health-and-safety grounds, but we have never had any problem with the decorations before. We have received no apologies about this and feel the spirit of Christmas has been spoiled here."
Seventeen of Olivier Court's residents have signed a petition to protest against removal of the decorations.
They said the episode proved Scrooge was alive and well.
"Residents bought Christmas decorations for us all to enjoy. They were being enjoyed very much by residents and visitors.
"Suddenly, we were instructed to remove them. We have no idea why. They were not even a fire hazard because they were all foil.
"Just because we are pensioners, are we not allowed these small pleasures? We do not ask for much."
Arun District Council said the move had not been intended to prevent residents from enjoying the festive period.
The council's statement said: "Recently West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has started inspections of our sheltered housing schemes. From this, and advice from our safety officer, all our scheme managers were written to and informed we can allow communal rooms to have decorations, but in entrance halls the decorations should be limited and there should be no decorations in hallways. The decorations should be of the correct standard and this should be provable.
"However, residents are assured they can continue to put up decorations within their own four walls.
"We are sorry for any upset but we were responding to advice from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and took the measures to ensure the safety of all residents."
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Weather for Bognor
Sunday 05 February 2012
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