Family who covered their home in Christmas lights for over 20 years have festive display banned by council over ‘slippery grass’ health and safety fears
- Roger Clifford and his family have put on huge Christmas display for 20 years
- The homeowner from Feock, Cornwall took a break from tradition last year
- But new local housing officer has warned them not to put up the lights again
- Mr Clifford said the officer has cited ‘ridiculous’ safety rules like ‘slippery grass’
A family has been banned from putting up Christmas lights on their own home after a housing officer warned them over health and safety fears about ‘slippery grass’.
For over 20 years, Roger Clifford has put on a glowing display in the village of Feock, Cornwall that has brought festive cheer to visitors from across the country who have come to visit.
His family’s stunning festive display in their garden and house front has included a version of the famous Coca Cola lorry, a life-size Santa’s sleigh and reindeers.
The cul-de-sac attraction, which has been a staple since 1996, has been seen by tourists from as far away as Dubai who have paid the home a visit.
Roger, 73, his wife Elizabeth, 71, and their son Ryan, 28, took a year off last year because of the pandemic.
A family have slammed Cornwall Housing’s ‘ridiculous’ attempt to ban them from putting up their annual Christmas display in the village of Feock
For over 20 years, Roger Clifford (pictured with son Ryan) has put on a glowing display in the village of Feock that has brought festive cheer to visitors from across the country who have come to visit
When it came time to decorate ahead of this Christmas, they claimed a new housing officer has banned them from putting up lights
But when it came time to decorate ahead of this Christmas, they claimed a new housing officer has banned them from putting up lights.
Cornwall Housing, which is a company set up by Cornwall Council and owns the surrounding land, visited and told them they can’t do it anymore.
Roger has been left furious by the ban, saying the worker had cited a ‘ridiculous’ health and safety rule around ‘slippery grass’ but was yet to give him a ‘good enough’ reason.
‘We have had no problems from anyone else previously but a new housing officer has come in and told us no,’ he told CornwallLive. ‘The old housing officers used to come out and have a look at them, not to question them but to see the show.’
The cul-de-sac attraction, which has been a staple since 1996, has been seen by tourists from as far away as Dubai who have paid the home a visit
Roger has been left furious by the ban, saying the worker had cited a ‘ridiculous’ health and safety rule around ‘slippery grass’ but was yet to give him a ‘good enough’ reason
‘We have had no problems from anyone else previously but a new housing officer has come in and told us no,’ he said
‘It’s a tradition for us and I don’t like breaking tradition.
‘My son who is 28 has been doing it since he was little and it’s been his project every year and adds to it. We are just wound-up really and gobsmacked.’
MailOnline has approached Cornwall Housing for a comment.
Locals, meanwhile, were left fuming at the housing officer for refusing to get in the Christmas spirit.
Locals were left fuming at the housing officer for refusing to get in the Christmas spirit
‘My son who is 28 has been doing it since he was little and it’s been his project every year and adds to it. We are just wound-up really and gobsmacked,’ Roger added
Sonia Penny commented: ‘What a grotty housing officer surprised he hasn’t cancelled Christmas totally. I would put it up as everyone loves it and that those around love it.’
Linda Bode added: ‘Mr jobsworth scrooge.’
Linda Allsop wrote that she ‘loved’ seeing the display every year, adding: ‘Such hard work goes into putting everything in place. Shame on that Housing officer.’
Tony Fischer wrote: ‘Gotta love Cornwall council trying to make this county as dull and grey as possible.’
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