Council made me remove Halloween decoration after ONE complaint

by · Mail Online

A mother claims she was forced to tear down her Halloween decorations after one neighbour's complaint triggered a visit from the council.

Caroline Ashley was stunned when a Liverpool Council worker allegedly rang her doorbell on September 24th demanding she remove the decorations - which were of two bodybags - from a tree in front of her house.

The 41-year-old said the council visit followed a 'really upset' local who banged on her door to say she was 'triggered' by the display.

As the two inflatables were hanging from a tree on a patch of council-owned land in front of her property and not her own land, Ms Ashley she was obliged to take them down.

The hospitality worker was initially baffled by the request as her own kids 'are not scared' of them but, not wanting to offend anyone, she removed them from display.

A mother claims she was forced to tear down her body bag Halloween decorations after one neighbour's complaint triggered a visit from the council. The hospitality worker was initially baffled by the request as her own kids 'aren't scared' of them but, not wanting to offend anyone, she removed them from display
Caroline Ashley was stunned when a Liverpool Council worker allegedly rang her doorbell on September 24th demanding she remove the offending decorations from a tree in front of her house
The 41-year-old said the council visit followed a 'really upset' local who banged on her door to say she was 'triggered' by the display

The mum-of-two said the council worker returned the following day to check the decorations had been taken down, and requested they be moved onto her property.

Ms Ashley shared her dilemma in a Facebook group of 300,000 members asking 'are the body bags too much?' where it went viral racking up more than 3,700 likes, shares and comments.

Most people praised her spooky display and urged her to up the ante by adding blood.

One wrote: 'Not too much at all! If you don't get at least one Karen calling your display 'too scary' or 'tasteless' you have failed.'

Another commented: 'Keep em up. If your neighbors don't like it, tell them don't look at your house, look the other way.'

And another said: 'No. Add dripping blood.'

But others conceded that it may be upsetting to people, especially children.

One said: 'I don't think that death and murder need to be a part of Halloween. It's not scary, it's frightening.'

Whilst another added: 'You'd be surprised how many people have lost a loved one to murder. You can be spooky and scary, and still be a thoughtful neighbour.

'The world is harsh and it doesn't care - so you can leave it up. The world is harsh and doesn't care, so you can choose [to] be thoughtful.'

And a further commented: 'Yes they are too much. Young children and some children who are neurodiverse will find these upsetting.

As the two inflatables were hanging from a tree on a patch of council-owned land in front of her property and not her own land, Ms Ashley she was obliged to take them down
The mum-of-two said the council worker returned the following day to check the decorations had been taken down, and requested they be moved onto her property
Ms Ashley shared her dilemma in a Facebook group of 300,000 members asking 'are the body bags too much?' where it went viral racking up more than 3,700 likes, shares and comments
Most people praised her spooky display and urged her to up the ante by adding blood. One wrote: 'Keep em up. If your neighbors don't like it, tell them don't look at your house, look the other way'. And another said: 'No. Add dripping blood' 
Ms Ashley, from Liverpool, said: 'I've always loved Halloween, I've been decorating my house for six years. I started getting a few bits and it's just got bigger.' She added: 'A neighbour was really upset, it's obviously triggered something'
Others conceded that it may be upsetting to people, especially children. One said: 'I don't think that death and murder need to be a part of Halloween. It's not scary, it's frightening'

'The purpose of decorations is to bring joy and whilst you may find this part of the fun, they need to be displayed in an area others, who find them distressing, are not having to walk past.

'It's okay to simply move them, there's no need to be upset and say you won't bother next year.

'Don't be so sensitive, move them into your back garden or home.'

Ms Ashley, from Liverpool, said: 'I've always loved Halloween, I've been decorating my house for six years. I started getting a few bits and it's just got bigger.

'The body bags offended a few people and the council came and said "you're going to have to take them down because it's not on your land".

'I've never had anything hanging from the tree before but when I've done Halloween displays I've put stuff on the grass out there and never had a problem.

'A neighbour was really upset, it's obviously triggered something. 

Caroline Ashley had originally placed some of the decorations on the grass under the tree but later decided to hang the body bags, which led to the council's visit
A lady told Caroline 'I love your displays but that is just too much'. She said the body bags 'triggered people [that it was] like hanging. That definitely was not the intention and I've got two kids and they're not scared of it'
In future, Ms Ashley said she'll keep the body bag decorations in the garage
A Liverpool City Council spokesman confirmed that a complaint was received and acted upon

'I thought "absolutely fine", I don't want to offend anyone. That wasn't the intention, it's just a Halloween decoration, so they are in my garage.'

She had originally placed some of the decorations on the grass under the tree but later decided to hang the body bags, which led to the council's visit.

Ms Ashley said: 'I put the Halloween decorations up a little bit early because I've got that much stuff.

'I got the body bag decorations online, it's the first time I'd put them up. 

A lady said "I love your displays but that is just too much". She said it triggered people [that it was] like hanging.

'That definitely was not the intention and I've got two kids and they're not scared of it.'

The next day, a council worker arrived, asking her to remove the decorations. 

'I took the stuff from the tree down and left the [other] stuff in the grass, and the following day they came round to check,' she added.

While taking them down, a passerby asked her why. 

Ms Ashley said, 'I've got to take them down, it's not my land and I think we've upset a few people.' 

She said, 'you are joking? I tell everyone about this house.'' 

A Liverpool City Council spokesman confirmed that a complaint was received and acted upon.