Flower displays in Chatteris are at risk of being a thing of the past after volunteers have been told they must complete a health and safety course priced at £165 per head.
Last year, the town won a gold Anglia in Bloom award for their entry of hanging baskets and other flower arrangements.
However, volunteers on the Chatteris in Bloom committee have been slammed with the news from Cambridgeshire County Council that they cannot put up hanging baskets without completing a health and safety course which would cost £165 per person.
Chatteris Town Council Clerk Joanna Melton has called the move an “unfair burden” on volunteers who give up their time to work on flower displays around the town.
She said: “It’s not so much the cost, its the time element which is awkward for the volunteers because they already give up so many hours volunteering putting up these baskets up.
“Now they are expected to give up time to travel some distance to take a training course.”
Chatteris in Bloom has been operating in town for more than 20 years.
Ms Melton said that many have stepped up to help Chatteris in Bloom thrive, including some companies in town offering to send their employees on the course.
A volunteer who puts up the Christmas lights in Chatteris has come forward to help with putting up some of the hanging baskets.
“To expect one volunteer to have the responsibility of doing it all isn’t fair,” added Ms Melton.
She added: “I think it is an unfair burden, volunteers already have things to do.
“I can understand the need for safety but one thing I did find out was that the lampposts in Chatteirs are specially designed to take the Christmas lights and the In Bloom hanging baskets. They’re heritage lights, they’re not your standard lampposts, they’re stronger.”
A spokesperson from Cambridgeshire County Council said: “We are always keen to work closely with local communities across Cambridgeshire to make use of streetlights with festive displays.
“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. This is not red tape, it’s about keeping people safe.”
“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.”
