December 5th 2024.
Michael Stonier, a 21-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent who has a passion for decorating his house with thousands of colorful lights during Christmas, is feeling disappointed and frustrated. He has been told by the social housing bosses to switch off his £10,000 fairy lights after 10pm, causing him to believe that the council is trying to ruin the holiday season for him and his family.
This annual tradition of adorning their house with over 7,000 twinkling bulbs has been going on for over 20 years, ever since Michael was a child. However, this year, the family has faced complaints from their neighbors and has been asked to turn off the lights at night. Michael suspects that someone may have intentionally cut the wires of their display, as they have never received any complaints in the past.
The Stoniers have expressed their disappointment towards the Homes Plus Group bosses, who they have nicknamed "Scrooges" for imposing a curfew on their beautiful lights. The reason behind this decision is that some neighbors have found the lights to be too bright and disruptive to their sleep. The family has also been told that they were not allowed to put up their lights before November 16th, but they chose to ignore this request and instead put them up in September.
Michael, who lives with his mother and brother, has expressed his frustration, stating that this tradition has always brought joy to their community. He believes that the lights bring people together and make everyone happy. The family has even spent over £10,000 on the lights over the years, showing their dedication and love for this tradition.
However, despite their efforts, the council seems determined to put a stop to their festive display. Michael questions why they are being targeted when other houses in the country are allowed to put up their lights without any restrictions. He also mentions that the council has not disclosed the number of complaints they have received, making him feel unfairly targeted.
The Stonier family has also faced challenges in the past, with their neighbors cutting the wires to their lights out of anger. Michael believes that the council's decision to turn off the lights at 10pm is "pathetic" and is just their way of saying "bah humbug" to the whole community. He also points out that there is no specific law stating when the lights should be turned on or off, and it should be a personal preference.
One of the main reasons why the Stoniers are upset is that their lights bring joy to many children in the neighborhood, especially those with disabilities. These children often come down the street just to see the beautiful decorations, bringing warmth to the family's heart. Michael believes that this should be taken into consideration by the council before imposing any restrictions.
Despite the complaints about the lights being too bright, the family argues that their neighbors on the other side of the street cannot even see the lights from their homes. They believe that the council's decision is unreasonable and that they are being victimized and blamed for something that is beyond their control.
An email from the Homes Plus Group informed Michael's mother that they had not followed their recommendations regarding the lights. The family was also reminded that some neighbors had cut the wires, which should have given them an indication of how the community feels about their display. However, the Stoniers feel that they are being unfairly targeted and that the council's decision to turn off the lights at 10pm is not justified.
The family has been running this Christmas display for 23 years, and they have never faced any issues until now. They are disappointed that their festive tradition is being labeled as a "nuisance" and that their neighbors' gardens are being affected by the bright lights. However, the executive director of housing and care, Les Clarke, has stated that they want everyone to enjoy the holiday season safely and considerately.
Despite the council's concerns about fire hazards and disturbing the neighbors, Michael and his family believe that they are not causing any harm or inconvenience to anyone. They are simply trying to spread some festive cheer and bring joy to their community. However, they feel like they are being targeted and that their efforts to brighten up the neighborhood during Christmas are being met with resistance.
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