A RACE against time is on to ensure Penistone’s Christmas lights can be fitted and switched on in time - after ‘arduous’ new legislation which came into force earlier this month was slammed by organisers.
Barnsley Council’s new policy is causing a headache for the Penistone Town Council team as they try to negotiate the ‘huge amount of administrative misery’ required to hang Christmas lights from usual lampposts.
According to the town council, organisers have faced ‘repeated blocks’ in trying to put up their usual Christmas light displays.
Clerk Nigel Bailey said: “This has been challenging enough in the past with hanging baskets - we’ve needed to get a full inspection and sign-off on every single lamppost in order to create a beautiful floral display in the town.
“But this new policy dropped last week, requiring even more detail and admin than before and with a six to eight-week turnaround time.
“Our Christmas lights will be officially switched on in five weeks - we just don’t have time to wait.
“The council have assured me that they will process our application quickly, but it’s a lot of stress and worry.”
The issue raised its head in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday, when long-running groups decided to shelve their usual poppy-fitting tradition in Hoyland due to the revised guidance which is due to the ‘health, safety and welfare’ of all highway users.
Mayor of Penistone Coun Hannah Kitching told the Chronicle: “This is such a busy time of year for our town council team, with Remembrance and then Christmas arrangements to be made.
“We want the town to look fantastic, but this bureaucracy is making it incredibly hard to get things done.
“I understand the council is wanting to ensure that things are safe, but all this for some lights on a lamppost that has already been deemed fit to carry a hanging basket?
“It’s just ridiculous.”
The council’s new guidance, released in a report earlier this month, confirmed that securing permission could take up to three months in some traffic-sensitive locations.
“During the installation of the attachment the installer must comply with the following requirements or face the revocation of the attachment licence,” it added.
“Ladders must not be placed directly against lighting columns - use self-supporting ladders, free-standing platforms or mobile elevated work platforms.
“A licence is required as a street lighting column is classed as a minor structure and is designed to enable the support of a luminaire and bracket and occasionally a specified road traffic sign, as a minimum specification.
“An assessment has to be carried out on the column to determine its capacity to structurally support any additional attachment.
“The application for a licence needs to be submitted at least eight weeks, and in some traffic-sensitive locations 12 weeks, before the proposed attachment installation date.”
