Why would Chatteris basket hangers need a safety course?

News that residents in a market town had been told to complete a £165 safety course or hire a contractor to hang baskets on streetlights left many people blooming furious. But what is the issue and why has it been raised now?

The Cambridgeshire town of Chatteris knows a thing or two about floral displays.

In recent years, Chatteris in Bloom has won gold at Britain in Bloom and Anglia in Bloom.

The group's award-winning displays are usually adorned on 20 lampposts and put up with the help of a local farmer and a telehandler each May, before judging in July.

But this year, a problem emerged - Cambridgeshire County Council said the lamppost displays could only go up if at least one member went on a safety course.

The council said this was all because the streetlights were connected to the power grid and it needed to "ensure everyone's safety".

Chatteris in Bloom has been going for years, so why now?

The council says its policy on fixing things to lampposts has been in place since 2019.

"We understand the issue has come up now as the Chatteris in Bloom display is due to be put up later in the month," a council spokesperson said.

"We discussed the need for training with the Chatteris Town Council and the Christmas Lights Committee last winter.

"Policy details have been shared with all parish and town councils in Cambridgeshire. It's also available on our website."

How dangerous are flowers on lampposts?

The council's safety concerns include people working at height and the fact streetlights are connected to the local power grid.

Data from the Health and Safety Executive shows three people were killed at work after coming into "contact with electricity or electrical discharge" and 40 died in "falls from height" during 2022-23.

The BBC was unable to find any examples of deaths or injuries caused by people putting displays up on lampposts.

However, UK Power Networks, which supplies the power to streetlights across the east, south east and London, told the BBC it had "not seen any power cuts or safety incidents as a result of items attached to lampposts".

The company was keen to stress it welcomed the "council's safety-first approach".

What is the course?

If they don't use trained contractors, the county council wants somebody from Chatteris in Bloom to get themselves on the G39 Working in the Vicinity of DNO (distribution network operators) Equipment awareness course.

It is a one-day course run by providers across the UK, usually at a cost of about £165-£175.

The aim of the course is to give people better knowledge of electrical safety in terms of public lighting and other street furniture.

Participants learn about public lighting systems, the law and how to avoid dangers.

Red tape?

Chatteris in Bloom's president Sue Unwin, 64, initially feared "bureaucracy was going to kill community spirit".

"It has become impossible with the bureaucracy and red tape," Mrs Unwin said.

"There's some jobsworth in the county council who has made this decision... we have been doing this for over 18 years. None of us have that capability or the money - we give enough of our time.

"We do everything properly and this bureaucracy is going to kill community spirit because we are getting fed up with this. We work hard to make our town look nice. Why can't they leave us alone to get on with it?"

However, since the BBC reported on the episode, Mrs Unwin was contacted by people willing to pay for and sit on the course so they could put the baskets on electrical street furniture.

"We have so much support behind us and we are hoping for gold again this year," she said.

The council has maintained throughout that "this is not red tape, it's about keeping people safe".

"All we are asking is that any group wishing to create displays on our streetlights - which could involve putting heavy items overhead, on streetlights directly connected to the local power grid - is that they contact us first.

"This is so we can make sure essential independent safety training is completed for everyone's wellbeing.

"We have met with Chatteris Town Council and we understand they are looking into volunteer training.

"We gather there is already at least one trained volunteer in the area."

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