No horror fun house
Covid cancels display
A Halloween-obsessed couple who spend weeks transforming their Motherwell home into a terrifying haunted house have taken the tough decision not to go ahead with it this year.
William and Roslyn Howson, of Fort Street, have welcomed hundreds of guisers over the years but are disappointed to announce that, because of the pandemic, the 2020 event has been cancelled.
William said:“after careful consideration and consulting with the local MP we regrettably have come to the decision not to go ahead with this year’s Halloween display.
“We would be responsible for policing social distance measures and taking details for track and trace.we think under the current circumstances it’s safest not to proceed and hope to see you all next year.”
William, who has been in the shielding category, says this year was going to be bigger and better than ever before as they approached their 14th year.
It takes the couple eight weeks to get their house ready for the Halloween display – unpacking 40 boxes of decorations, bought from as far away as Japan and America.
They had even started putting things up on their walls but decided that, after the recent Lanarkshire lockdown, it would be safer to cancel and re-arrange for next year.
William added:“we are gutted but we have to think of everyone involved.we only ever have five people in the house at the one time but there are crowds that gather outside and this would require policing and various other things put in place.
“It’s just not going to be possible. I have my own health problems too so have to think about that.we are very disappointed but there is always next year.”
The pair started the tradition after throwing a Halloween party for their grandson’s fifth birthday in 2006.
Trick-or-treaters queued up on the narrow street for hours to go through the haunted house, which was kitted out with hundreds of creepy decorations and scary mannequins.