11.12.2015

Trouble over 180ft Father Christmas

UK rental company JMS Plant Hire is in trouble for erecting Christmas lights on top of a 180ft Genie SX-180 boom lift outside the front of its head office in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

Although company founder and managing director Mark Jackson has been elevating Christmas decorations for the past six years, a complaint from a neighbour is threatening to pull the plug on the festive Father Christmas, snowman and flashing star display.
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UK rental company JMS Plant Hire is in trouble for erecting Christmas lights on top of a 180ft Genie SX-180 boom lift.

Quoted in a local newspaper Jackson said: “I find it quite amusing that someone is uptight to that degree. I got a phone call from the council saying someone could see the lights from their house. You can also see the moon and stars twinkling in the sky - what is the problem?”

The local council has issued him with a letter citing concerns regarding a large cherry picker being placed at the front of his building. It added that a condition of planning permission stated that no equipment could be stored in front of the building. The letter demanded the cherry picker be removed and that failure to comply may result in formal enforcement action being instigated through either a breach of condition notice or enforcement notice without any further notice.
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"The lights raise smiles; I do it because I enjoy Christmas," said Jackson

Jackson said: “I have no intention of moving the boom till the 4th of January. Mounted on such a large boom attracts some attention I suppose, but Christmas is commercial and the lights raise smiles, I do it because I enjoy Christmas. The platform is only there a few weeks and is not permanent. The lights are on a timer and go off at 11pm. It’s not causing any harm, so hopefully common sense will prevail.”

Vertikal Comment

This is quite an amusing story and its hard to see why anyone would find fault with Christmas lights at that height, rather than at eye level right next door?

What has not been mentioned is the wisdom of leaving a boom fully extended overnight, one has to assume that it is brought down each evening when the last person leaves the depot??

Bah Humbug