A house dubbed ‘Romford Wonderland’ in Pettits Lane has been extravagantly decorated by the Grange family each year for Christmas since moving in 11 years ago.
This year, Ian Grange had planned an official opening event on Saturday (December 6) for the first time.
However, after receiving a letter from the council at the end of November asking him to contact it urgently to discuss logistics for the event, Ian cancelled it.
“I am disappointed in all honesty,” he told the Recorder.
“I’m not stupid – I understand why they’re doing it but I am upset about it.
“It was just something I was doing for the good and I didn’t realise how much it could have been bad for somebody else.
“It is what it is really, that’s life unfortunately.”
The Recorder has seen the letter sent to Ian. It reads: “It has come to our attention that you are planning an event on December 6 to mark the Christmas Light’s (sic) switch-on .
“We kindly ask that you contact us as a matter of urgency, on either the email or telephone number above; to discuss the details further.
“Please note that the logistics of this event must be arranged with the council before it can proceed. In particular, arrangements regarding licenses, parking, and emergency vehicle access need to be reviewed and confirmed.”
Ian said the event was “never going to be how they [the council] thought it would be” but deemed it easier to just cancel the event than attend a meeting and put the requirements in place.
He initially planned to play some music, have someone singing and potentially sell some hot food on Saturday.
“To be fair I can understand where the council is coming from with Gallows Corner being shut and the roads are now being used as a cut-through,” he said.
“If there was a situation and they needed to get an emergency vehicle through but hundreds of cars turned up then you can understand what the council is saying.”
Ian confirmed the lights will still be turned on from around 4pm until 11.30pm each day over the festive period and he is eager for people to still come along and “enjoy the attraction” when they can.
He also said it is unlikely he will plan an opening event next year.
The family will still be taking donations for Lime Academy Ravensbourne, a special education school in Neave Crescent where Ian’s daughter Kayleigh attends.
A Havering Council spokesperson said: “We are saddened that Mr Grange was unable to host this Christmas event and while we don’t wish to spoil anyone’s Christmas festivities, the council needs to consider the health and safety risks of any public events.
“The event could have posed a serious risk of overcrowding and spilled onto the busy main road.
“It was therefore agreed by both Mr Grange and the council that this was not a suitable location for the event, which could have potentially attracted hundreds of visitors.
“Mr Grange, as the event organiser, would have been liable.”
