A GROUP of flower enthusiasts has been hit with a ban on hanging baskets after fears 
they posed a public risk. For almost two decades hanging baskets have been a part of Bury St Edmunds’ summer floral displays. But this year they will be absent from the Suffolk town after the council ruled there was a risk they could fall from lampposts and injure the public. The council felt the town’s lampposts could not cope with the added weight of the pots of soil and could break. Michael Ames, chairman of the Bury in Bloom committee, said the ban by Suffolk County Council was pointless. “They are guarding their own backs over health and safety,” he said. “But no-one has been hurt - certainly not in Bury St Edmunds, certainly not in Suffolk.” Guy Smith, assistant highways manager for the council, said they just wanted to ensure the safety of the public as some baskets were quite heavy. The council felt they could present a safety hazard on some of the older lampposts. “We have to be satisfied that the columns are strong and stable enough to take the weight,” he said. BBC News 10/2/04.
they posed a public risk. For almost two decades hanging baskets have been a part of Bury St Edmunds’ summer floral displays. But this year they will be absent from the Suffolk town after the council ruled there was a risk they could fall from lampposts and injure the public. The council felt the town’s lampposts could not cope with the added weight of the pots of soil and could break. Michael Ames, chairman of the Bury in Bloom committee, said the ban by Suffolk County Council was pointless. “They are guarding their own backs over health and safety,” he said. “But no-one has been hurt - certainly not in Bury St Edmunds, certainly not in Suffolk.” Guy Smith, assistant highways manager for the council, said they just wanted to ensure the safety of the public as some baskets were quite heavy. The council felt they could present a safety hazard on some of the older lampposts. “We have to be satisfied that the columns are strong and stable enough to take the weight,” he said. BBC News 10/2/04.
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