Psycho deckchairs have been banned from a park in case they attack people. Council killjoys branded the garden furniture “vicious” over fears of “a nasty accident involving little fingers”.
Deckchairs were set out, free of charge, alongside picnic tables in Clarence Park, St Albans, Hertfordshire, by Verdi’s Italian restaurant. But “petty” town hall chiefs have now banned the “unlicensed” chairs for health and safety reasons.
Councillor Josie Madoc, chairwoman of the Clarence Park Consultative Forum, said: “As we all know, deckchairs can be a bit vicious.
“Anything that is in the park has to be carefully checked and maintained on a regular basis and if these chairs have not been checked then the risk is that there will be a nasty accident involving little fingers.”
Verdi’s boss Terry Di Francesco said they “proved hugely popular” when he first put them out during the pandemic. He even removed his restaurant’s logo to keep within advertising rules.
But Coun Madoc said they were “placed far and wide” outside of the restaurant’s permitted area in a “breach of their licence”.
Now hundreds of locals have signed a petition to keep the chairs. Andrew Cheek fumed: “Verdi’s provided them free of charge, for any park user to enjoy. Yet the council and the park forum had them banned. Absolutely shameful.”
Christine Dawson said: “Deck-chairs are a quintessential part of British summertime. Don’t be petty.”
St Albans District Council said the deckchairs were returned to the park despite warnings given to Verdi’s in 2020 and 2021.
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