Authority scrooges are banning residents from putting Christmas wreaths on their doors – for health and safety reasons
Locals hit back at festive decoration ban calling for a revolt
SCROOGES at a local council and housing association have slapped a "mad" festive ban on Christmas wreaths and decorations.
A mum in south London came home to find stickers demanding the removal of decorations while East Devon Council has banned wreaths and other festive ornaments from the communal areas of its properties arguing they could be a fire risk.
East Devon locals have hit back at the "pathetic" ruling and called for a revolt to keep the festive season jolly.
Posting on social media Susan Griffin wrote: "Better tell the churches to take out any straw from their nativity scenes in case the stable goes up in flames!! Heaven help us, things go from mad to madder!"
Collin Turcotte wrote: "Wood burns, get that wood furniture out of those houses. Cooking with gas there is a flame involved, none of that stuff allowed.
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Mr Turcotte continued: "This is over the top and could be solved with some common sense. Oh, councils, common sense, those two statements should never appear in the same sentence."
Roger Williams posted: "Just how pathetic can this council get?
"Time for the residents to revolt and keep putting them up. If the council take them down - put more up."
David Barter said: "It's extreme - it's a matter of two weeks a year."
Andrew Rendell wrote: "Bah!
"So people have been celebrating Christmas in flats for over two thousand years and now someone thinks wreaths etc are dangerous?? Humbug."
East Devon District Councillor Jill Elson defended the move.
She said: "Having decorations inside their own flats is the residents' own responsibility.
"But outside in communal areas is our responsibility - we want to make sure everybody is safe.
"And fire escapes remain clear.
"The council may be being like Scrooge but we have to make sure everyone is safe in our communal flats including those who are less mobile.
"We had a fire in Honiton and there was quite a problem with it because of clutter."
Lisa Çopur Jarvis, 33, hung a heart-shaped wreath, adorned with baubles, on the door of her south-east London flat on Sunday.
On Wednesday she returned to to find an unseasonal sticker plastered on the decoration by housing association Affinity Sutton, stating it was a fire hazard and giving a strict deadline for its removal.
Lisa, who has lived in the flat in Bromley for five years said: "This has been the third year that I've hung that wreath on my door and I've never been told to remove it.
"It's my son's first Christmas and the housing association are not going to ruin it.
"It's pathetic and laughable. Whoever put that sticker on my door is a jobsworth."
A neighbour who had mistletoe hanging hang up has also been told to remove it
The journalist tweeted the housing association a picture of the wreath and sticker, writing: "@AffinitySutton Are you having a laugh!?"
The account wrote back: "Think the local team is working a little too hard to keep everyone safe this Xmas! Please ignore the sign & have a great Xmas :-)"
It's been revealed that East Devon Council is even running courses teaching residents to make the banned wreaths.
An advert for the events read: "East Devon District Council’s Countryside team is laying on a series of festive craft making events just in time for Christmas.
"Windrush Willow will be running a Willow Christmas decorations workshop in the Reed Base at Seaton Wetlands on Saturday 3 December from 10am to 1pm with an expert on hand to teach how to make garlands, wreaths and stars. The sessions are open to everyone.
"All materials will be provided and everything you make can be taken home to decorate your home or to give as gifts this Christmas.";
This week The Sun revealed that Christmas-mad parents are giving their babies names that capture the festive spirit.
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