Jubilee bunting ban for lampposts in Burnham-on-Sea

Bunting cannot be hung along high street lampposts in a Somerset town due to health and safety fears.

The Chamber of Trade in Burnham has been refused permission by Somerset County Council to hang 750m of bunting.

Chamber secretary Jonathan Walter said: "We have put a bit more pressure on them to justify how they think the bunting is going to cause any damage or risks to pedestrians."

The council has said the bunting can only be hung from shop fronts.

A county council spokesman said: "Somerset County Council is very happy to help local councils put up bunting to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and other events.

"We recommend councils use their existing fixing points for Christmas lights, CCTV cameras or such like.

"Last year a lamppost came down in London, killing a child, and it's important we avoid a similar tragedy in Somerset."

The bunting has been paid for by the town council's Diamond Jubilee committee.

"It's just standard bunting, it's not anything other than that, the lamppost and street furniture belong to the county council and they weren't happy with it.

"I'm in disbelief - it's like everyone thinks, it's just a bit of bunting what damage can it do? But they were adamant and we were told we didn't have permission to do it."

Burnham Chamber of Trade and Commerce is paying the cost of putting the bunting up along the pedestrianised areas of the high street.

"No-one wants anyone to get hurt by any bunting, but bunting has been used for years and years," Mr Walter said.

"I'm sure it was used for the [Queen's] Coronation, I'm sure we didn't need certificates of approval then.

"It does wind me up and I've been watching the torch relay and everywhere you watch there is bunting... I don't know why we are being singled out like this."