Scrooge police pull the plug on street's Christmas lights display because neighbour complained of too many cars stopping to look

  • Area in Hedge End, Hampshire, lit up with Christmas lights in aid of charity
  • Hundreds of families visited the area - until one neighbour called police
  • Officers shut down the event, installing roadblock and switching off lights
  • 'Can’t believe people would complain about this,' one onlooker said 
  • 'You [police] should be spending more time fighting real crime', said another

By Lizzie Edmonds

PUBLISHED: 07:28 EST, 23 December 2013 | UPDATED: 09:00 EST, 23 December 2013


Officers pulled the plug on a huge Christmas lights display after hundreds of spectators descended on the quiet cul-de-sac.

Groups of excited families flocked to see the 12 homes in Hedge End, Hampshire, and the surrounding streets decked out like a winter wonderland.

However, many were left disappointed after a neighbour alerted police - who installed a roadblock an forced homeowners to switch off the lights.

Festive: Scores of people visited the cul-de-sac in Hedge End, Hampshire, which had been lit up for charity

Festive: Scores of people visited the cul-de-sac in Hedge End, Hampshire, which had been lit up for charity

'Traffic chaos': One neighbour called police due to the number of visitors. Police enforced a roadblock and ordered homeowners to turn the lights off until observers had dispersed

'Traffic chaos': One neighbour called police due to the number of visitors. Police enforced a roadblock and ordered homeowners to turn the lights off until observers had dispersed

Cars were said to be blocking roads, which raised concerns of crashes and emergency services not being able to get through.

The lights were switched off until traffic dispersed and residents were only allowed to turn them back on once the roads were clear.

Hampshire Constabulary even issued an online warning urging people to stay away from the area.

Participants have raised £25,000 for a children’s hospice by lighting up their homes from December 1 to January 1 for the last 10 years.

Many reacted angrily to the intervention and branded the shutdown ‘disgusting’.

 

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Hanna Robinson wrote on Facebook: 'I think this is a disgusting and disrespectful status from Hampshire constabulary.

'The residents in this road have come together as a community to raise money for charity, and all you can do is worry about a bit of congestion for a few nights.

'You should be spending more time fighting real crime than to be writing statuses like this... We took our three children there last night for the first time and the looks on their faces were worth a million pounds.

Attraction: One of the houses in the area - where residents have been lighting up their homes for 10 years in aid of a local children's hospice

Attraction: One of the houses in the area - where residents have been lighting up their homes for 10 years in aid of a local children's hospice

'I think it’s lovely the hard work the people in that road are going to to raise money and more of us should take a leaf out of their books rather than them being punished for a good deed.

'I for one will be supporting there efforts.'

Onlooker Carly Hughes wrote: 'Can’t believe people would complain about this! We have just been and it was magical and all for charity!

'As we were leaving the police officer stopping everyone turning into the road said it was chaos and the road was gridlocked.

'There wasn’t one car driving down the road, everyone was on foot and yes it was busy but for good reason! People need to find some Christmas spirit!'

'Punished for a good deed': One visitor hit out at the police action, saying officers were 'disrespectful' and 'disgusting' for shutting it down

'Punished for a good deed': One visitor hit out at the police action, saying officers were 'disrespectful' and 'disgusting' for shutting it down

Another, Gemma Burgess, said the families should be rewarded for putting the lights up and footing steep electricity bills for a good cause.

She wrote: 'They do this not only for charity that they do every year but also to see the smiles on the kids’ faces.

'A lot of people can’t afford to take their kids for Christmas days out so they take them there to see the lights.

'My kids love it and look forward to it. Yes tonight it was busy but more people means more donations and how can anyone moan about that!! Bah humbug!!'

And Andy Grant-West added: 'This is a charity and community thing. Our money goes regularly on police having to be at events like football that a lot of people have no interest in, but we are forced to live with it and put up with it.

'Christmas is once a year and the lights are for a charity. Can the police not extend their services and be charitable at this time of year?'

Intervention: Police even issued an online warning, saying visitors must stay away from the area

Intervention: Police even issued an online warning, saying visitors must stay away from the area

A resident, who asked not to be named, said the fundraisers were due to meet with police over the future of the lights.

The retired man said: 'There were hundreds and hundreds of people here and with cars parked on verges and blocking access there were fears about public safety and crashes.

'The police said it was a public order issue because of all the congestion.

'It’s a shame because at the end of the day we’re doing this for charity.

'Some people come back every night because their children love the lights so much - the reward is seeing the delighted look on their little faces.

Congestion: Hampshire police said that some were 'concerned about congestion around the Christmas lights

Congestion: Hampshire police said that some were 'concerned about congestion around the Christmas lights

'When the congestion had eased, there was an outcry to be allowed to turn the lights back on. The officers on the ground got the go-ahead from their superiors and eventually we could.

'But we’ve got to have a meeting to see if we can continue using them.'

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: 'We were called to the Stephenson Way and Britannia Gardens area of Hedge End at 5pm on Sunday.

'Some local residents reported concerns about traffic congestion due to the numbers of motorists visiting Christmas lights.

'Police worked with residents and visitors to help clear the traffic congestion as swiftly and as safely as possible.'


 

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Yes, 'cos the displaying of Christmas Lights for charity is a well known offence isn't it?

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What a miserable Christmas Grinch. Look out for a retired person who probably moans like hell about Health and Safety every other day of the year. Someone will find out who it is ........

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Congestion doesn't even come close, at one point it was total gridlock. If u wanted to c the lights and selfishly disregarded the website advice given, to park at the train station and walk, u would probably hv been stuck, can't go forward can't go back. What about the residents who couldnt get into or out of their own homes? Families / children trying cross in traffic amongst parked cars = dangerous. How would u feel if someone, god forbid a child was hit whilst trying to see round and cross through the cars? Tragically it does happen. Verge parking and families trying to cross amongst moving traffic = dangerous. Grass verges ripped to shreds and several people wheel spinning because they were stuck. Abuse given to residents by visitors. A lovely event, for a fab reason spoilt by inconsiderate and selfish parking. An event that has grown yr on yr, but this yr has exploded. The police were there to deal with justifiable safety issues, amongst others, caused by selfish people.

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the street looks great and the fact its for charity i simply have no words that can express what I'm feeling about some miserable people that obviously have nothing else to worry or complain about. its lovely that people care about others and come together to show that. its a time for giving and sharing! well you would think so. for the last ten years this has made so much money for charity whilst giving others so much joy. a big thank you to the residents involved. Happy Xmas.

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Scrooge is alive and well and living in Hedge End, Hampshire! Name the complainer and let the neighbours know who it is.

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Don't blame the police - they r only doing their job ! Blame the neighbour who complained !!!!!!!!

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I do - they should be named and shamed. Scrooge lives!

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The street looks lovely and the money goes to a good course put the lights on and keep them on I go every year well done to the people in that street people who say bad things about it you can't judge until you have been merry Christmas everyone

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They have been doing this for years it's very well known locally I remember going to see Santa there as a child, I hope this miserable F*!?*r doesn't ruin this for ever.

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Oh well if it's for charity then that's all right. The neighbours in all the surrounding streets should just put up with the extra traffic, noise etc from passing gawkers & shut up should they?.

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Pratt

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These light displays are vulgar and a waste of energy. I thought people were struggling to pay their gas and electricity bills!

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EGG THEIR HOUSE!

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