Fury in pretty UK town as locals told to pay £165 in hanging baskets health and safety

The Chatteris in Bloom volunteers are seething at the new rules (Image: Chatteris in Bloom)

A health a safety row has erupted as hardworking volunteers are told they need to complete a £165 course to hang flower baskets.

Residents in the market town of Chatteris are absolutely staggered after learning that unless they shell out for the safety course, they will have to hire a specialist contractor to brighten up their lampposts with hanging baskets.

Dedicated volunteers of Chatteris in Bloom have won gold at Britain in Bloom and Anglia in Bloom - but the new regulations from Cambridgeshire County Council are pushing them to their limits.

The council is fighting back and say that the rules must be followed because the streetlights are connected to the power grid which are needed to "ensure everyone's safety".

Group president Sue Unwin, 64, said: "It has become impossible with the bureaucracy and red tape,” reports the BBC.

The local council say that the course is needed to ensure everyone's safety (Image: Chatteris in Bloom)

She added: "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.”

The county council told the residents the new safety course would last a day.

They told the group if they already had a qualified member they would be able to hang the baskets after the council approved their application.

Maggie Manders, 76, also from Chatteris, said that you need the baskets for the displays to look good.

She said: "You can't just have the flowers, the hanging baskets do make it... you can't have the fish without the chips.

Ms Manders added: "It would make my day if they let us have it. We love Chatteris in Bloom, please let us have this."

Around 20 lampposts are used for the displays and flowers are put up at the end of May and judged in July.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson told the BBC: "It's great seeing the creative ways that communities across the county make use of streetlights with festive displays.

"As streetlights are directly connected to the local power grid, to ensure everyone's safety any group wishing to display items from a streetlight needs to get in touch with the council so we can make sure essential independent safety training is completed for everyone's wellbeing.

"We look forward to hearing from Chatteris in Bloom."

Express.co.uk has approached Cambridgeshire County Council for comment.