Light show forced me out of my home, says neighbour
A CHRISTMAS lights extravaganza staged in a road dubbed “Britain’s most festive street” forced a former neighbour to leave his home as he claimed it caused distress to his family.
More than 1,000 people gathered in New Milton, Hants, on Sunday to watch the Christmas illuminations being switched on in Byron Road, which helps raise thousands of pounds for charity.
The event has grown in popularity over recent years since it was started 14 years ago by resident Ged Hollyoake.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, Ged’s son Jason Dean, who oversees the entertainment, said: “He [Ged] started putting up a few lights which attracted around 30 people and now we’ve got singers and entertainment and a stage and it’s just grown and grown and grown. It really is huge. It’s got to be the biggest in the area.”
But behind the dazzling array of fairy lights and decorations, tensions in the street have simmered, with some signing a petition for the switch-on to be scrapped.
Mark Timms, 48, said he was forced to leave his home last year after the display became too distressing for Oliver, his autistic son. Mr Timms, a boatbuilder, claimed residents living in 14 properties out of 29 in the street willingly participated in the event, while the remaining neighbours refuse to join in the “carnage”.
Mr Hollyoake, 71, dismissed reports of any neighbourhood conflict and pointed out that the event had raised more than £70,000 for charity.
Mr Timms said: “I think people raising money for charity is a wonderful thing to do, don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to be ‘bah humbug’ – but there’s always another side to it.”