Verging on the ridiculous? bottom-baring gnomes banned
THEY’RE not everybody’s cup of tea, but the garden gnome is certainly a symbol of British cheekiness at its best.
But two gnomes outside Laurence Perry’s home in Wistaston, Cheshire, have been deemed too cheeky – and officials have told him to remove them before they cause an accident.
The gnomes, which are baring their backsides and light up at night, were placed on a grass verge by 77-year-old Mr Perry. Officials wrote to him, telling him to clear the offending items within seven days or workmen would be called out to remove them, and bill the pensioner for the cost.
The letter, from the Cheshire East council senior highways officer Andrea Bickerton, states: “I am sure that your intentions are meant to be humorous and lighthearted. Unfortunately, not everyone shares the same sentiment.
“You are required to therefore remove them at your earliest opportunity.
If you fail to remove them, the council will remove them and recover from you the expense of doing so.”
Mr Perry said: “I feel very disappointed. My daughter bought them for Father’s Day as a bit of fun as she knows I like a laugh. How can they be classed as offensive?
“I put them up two weeks ago – no one ever approached me to complain or ask for them to be removed. The next thing I know, this heavyhanded letter arrives. I’ll put one on my garden wall, as that’s my land. And I’ll replace the other with a gnome with his trousers on! Hopefully, no one will find that offensive.”
A Cheshire East council spokesman said: “While we do not wish to spoil people’s fun, there is a safety issue here. We received a complaint about these ornaments which, while seemingly harmless, are designed to attract attention and light up at night.
“Therefore, we have to take steps to have them removed in the interests of road safety and the safety of pedestrians.”