CHILDREN are now being denied the autumnal pleasure of collecting conkers as council workers will be there ahead of them in the supposed interests of health and safety. Rather than risk children damaging themselves or property by collecting the horse chestnuts, 
Newcastle Upon Tyne City Council is responding to residents’ requests to get to them first. Taxpayers are funding the operation by the council’s environmental services team to use a cherry picker crane to strip trees bare of conkers before children can get their hands on them. But members of the public have been stunned by the sight of the conker-picking team at work. Martin Callanan, the north-east’s Tory MEP, said: “Words fail me. It’s the nanny state gone mad. I used to collect conkers as a lad and I never injured myself and nor did any of my friends. There must be better things they could do with their time. They could clean the streets for a start.” Evening Standard 10/10/06.
Newcastle Upon Tyne City Council is responding to residents’ requests to get to them first. Taxpayers are funding the operation by the council’s environmental services team to use a cherry picker crane to strip trees bare of conkers before children can get their hands on them. But members of the public have been stunned by the sight of the conker-picking team at work. Martin Callanan, the north-east’s Tory MEP, said: “Words fail me. It’s the nanny state gone mad. I used to collect conkers as a lad and I never injured myself and nor did any of my friends. There must be better things they could do with their time. They could clean the streets for a start.” Evening Standard 10/10/06.
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