Brickbat: Merry Christmas

In Portsmouth, England, the local council has ordered residents living in council-owned housing to remove Christmas wreaths and other decorations from outside their front doors. The council’s housing service sent letters warning that placing these items in communal areas violates tenancy agreements, as well as health and safety rules. Officials said hallways, doors, and shared spaces must remain clear to reduce fire risks and other hazards, and suggested residents decorate inside their homes or on private balconies instead. If residents do not take them down, staff will remove them and charge a $33 fee to retrieve them. A council spokesman acknowledged the rule is “frustrating” but said it is “designed to protect everyone.”