- Problems for Christmas Lights
- Christmas News Stories
- Hull City Council Bans Santa Hats
- Philippines Declares War on Carol Singers
- Infamous Conker Ban - Cumbria, England
- Fake Bonfires
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 hereGreen 'Dormat' Christmas Tree - Red Tape in Poole Dorest


More 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 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.'French Parents Seek Ban on Father Christmas Advert
French parents have sought to ban a television commercial in which a father tells his adult son that Father Christmas does not exist, claiming it has traumatised their children Will and Guy have discovered. The 20-second clip was aired last week during a commercial break on TF1, which was broadcasting the family film, "Ratatouille". 'Son, I've got some bad news for you,' says the father in the advert for Crédit Mutuel, a high street bank. 'Father Christmas doesn't exist,' he says, making a parallel with financial advisers whose prime motivation for selling products, he claims, is their commission. The commercial sparked outrage among parents who are calling on the advertising watchdog to ban the clip.Red Tape in Other Countries
Grinch Handcuffs Santa's Writing Hand
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
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- 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.