A Bradley Stoke Councillor has criticised his own Council’s planning department after an official threatened a Winterbourne Christmas tree seller with prosecution for erecting an inflatable Santa Claus on his land.

A statement given by South Gloucestershire Council to the Bristol Post described the Santa figure as an “illegal advertisement” and expressed concern that “the inflatable risks distracting passing drivers and causing a hazard to road users”.

Cllr John Ashe (Cons, Bradley Stoke South) says he fears Christmas light displays in residential areas could soon attract the attention of over-zealous Council officials.

Cllr Ashe told The Post:

“After telling people to take down their inflatable Santas, what next? Telling people to take down their outdoor Christmas lights?”

“There are inevitably going to be more distractions around at this time of year – it’s called being festive. Common sense at Christmas is being forced to make way for Scrooge. It’s bonkers.”

Read more in the Bristol Post:

• South Gloucestershire Council says take down dangerous giant Santa
• Inflatable Santa Claus ban is “bonkers”

Hopefully, the clamp down will have no effect on The Journal’s charity reader poll to find the best Christmas lights display in Bradley Stoke, which starts tomorrow (Sunday 23rd December).

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Tags: Christmas

This entry was posted on Saturday 22nd December 2012 at 12:42 pm and is filed under General News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.