Some people round my way have put in lots of effort into their Christmas lights. Though nothing like this house.
Dad threatened with GBP10,000 Covid fine for Christmas lights display | Metro News
A homeowner has been threatened with a £10,000 fine unless he switches off his charity Christmas lights.
Trevor Payne, 46, has been displaying festive lights outside his house for several years to raise money for mental health charities.
But police were called to his property in Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, on Saturday evening after reports of a ‘large gathering’ in the street.
The dad was ordered to turn off his seasonal display or face a huge fine for breaking coronavirus rules – leaving families and children in the area heartbroken. Anne Marie Beckett, 32, said her daughter Serena, three, and five-year-old son Bobby had been ‘loving’ the lights before officers turned up on the road.
‘I think it is disgusting to be honest,’ said the single mum. ‘Most people were wearing masks and social distancing in a one-way system through the garden. It felt really safe and was beautifully decorated. ‘It was the first time we’ve been to this one and it’s one of the best we’ve seen.
‘Everyone was just trying to give their kids a little taste of Christmas and then the police turned up. ‘The lights were lovely and the atmosphere was so nice. But when the police shut the lights down the atmosphere turned. ‘We were just trying to get some Christmas spirit for the kids and now they have spoiled the small amount of festive joy we could enjoy this year.’
Visitors said the attraction was made Covid-safe by implementing a one-way system with hand sanitising stations.
They also claimed Trevor received full clearance beforehand from council bosses to ensure he was not flouting any Government rules. Residents have now said police are ‘spoiling the small amount of festive joy’ they could experience this year in their tier three area. ‘These people are selflessly raising money for Young Minds,’ added Anne.
'They are doing their bit for a mental health charity, which really needs support at the moment. ‘In a time when charities are crying out for support Staffordshire Police deem it acceptable to queue outside Primark – but this isn’t allowed? ‘There were about 50 people there when we arrived but it was marshalled really safely by the homeowners. ‘Yet you’re allowed to queue with hundreds of people shoulder-to-shoulder outside shops. It’s ridiculous.’
Another resident Sam Bartlett, 36, said: ‘You’ve got people going to football matches but you can’t take children to see some Christmas lights to donate to a good cause.
‘It just seems backwards. I’m not one of these Covid deniers and if it didn’t feel safe I would not have taken the kids. ‘But he had hand sanitising stations, markers down and a one-way system in place – it was more sensibly laid-out than some shops and pubs I’ve been to. ‘
He even had clearance from the council beforehand, this isn’t somebody blatantly flouting the rules. He’s tried to do it by the book and still gets punished.
Dad threatened with GBP10,000 Covid fine for Christmas lights display | Metro News
A homeowner has been threatened with a £10,000 fine unless he switches off his charity Christmas lights.
Trevor Payne, 46, has been displaying festive lights outside his house for several years to raise money for mental health charities.
But police were called to his property in Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, on Saturday evening after reports of a ‘large gathering’ in the street.
The dad was ordered to turn off his seasonal display or face a huge fine for breaking coronavirus rules – leaving families and children in the area heartbroken. Anne Marie Beckett, 32, said her daughter Serena, three, and five-year-old son Bobby had been ‘loving’ the lights before officers turned up on the road.
‘I think it is disgusting to be honest,’ said the single mum. ‘Most people were wearing masks and social distancing in a one-way system through the garden. It felt really safe and was beautifully decorated. ‘It was the first time we’ve been to this one and it’s one of the best we’ve seen.
‘Everyone was just trying to give their kids a little taste of Christmas and then the police turned up. ‘The lights were lovely and the atmosphere was so nice. But when the police shut the lights down the atmosphere turned. ‘We were just trying to get some Christmas spirit for the kids and now they have spoiled the small amount of festive joy we could enjoy this year.’
Visitors said the attraction was made Covid-safe by implementing a one-way system with hand sanitising stations.
They also claimed Trevor received full clearance beforehand from council bosses to ensure he was not flouting any Government rules. Residents have now said police are ‘spoiling the small amount of festive joy’ they could experience this year in their tier three area. ‘These people are selflessly raising money for Young Minds,’ added Anne.
'They are doing their bit for a mental health charity, which really needs support at the moment. ‘In a time when charities are crying out for support Staffordshire Police deem it acceptable to queue outside Primark – but this isn’t allowed? ‘There were about 50 people there when we arrived but it was marshalled really safely by the homeowners. ‘Yet you’re allowed to queue with hundreds of people shoulder-to-shoulder outside shops. It’s ridiculous.’
Another resident Sam Bartlett, 36, said: ‘You’ve got people going to football matches but you can’t take children to see some Christmas lights to donate to a good cause.
‘It just seems backwards. I’m not one of these Covid deniers and if it didn’t feel safe I would not have taken the kids. ‘But he had hand sanitising stations, markers down and a one-way system in place – it was more sensibly laid-out than some shops and pubs I’ve been to. ‘
He even had clearance from the council beforehand, this isn’t somebody blatantly flouting the rules. He’s tried to do it by the book and still gets punished.
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