Council worker told to remove Red Nose
ROAD sweeper and fund raiser Peter Vickery has fallen foul of his council bosses — by sticking a Comic Relief red nose on his van.
South Hams Council did not see the funny side of his efforts to support the national charity event and told him he must take it off his road sweeper's van.
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Pete had shelled out £2 for the large metallic red nose the size of a plate and thought he was making a Comic Relief statement and raising cash for needy causes at the same time.
But it was no joke when his council depot bosses spotted it and told him it had to go.
The authority says its vehicles cannot be personalised and cannot be seen to favour one charity over another.
Now Pete has been forced to transfer the sticker to his own car.
But he is furious that South Hams Council would not let him display it on the council-owned van he uses when he travels around Kingsbridge and the surrounding villages to carry out his street sweeping work.
"I was called into the office and told basically to take it off," said Peter, who lives in Kingsbridge, as he accused the authority of being too 'politically correct'.
"They said you couldn't have anything on the vans – no Union Jacks, not anything, even if it was for charity. I think that the council needs to humanise itself a bit more. It's lost contact and got too politically correct."
In the past workers at South Hams Council's Follaton House headquarters in Totnes have raised up to £200 taking part in sponsored events for Comic Relief.
On Comic Relief Day — Friday, March 13 — staff are staging a 'Wear Something Silly on Your Head' day to raise yet more cash.
Meanwhile, Pete claims he has had his red nose put out of joint as he added: "It seems all wrong. I had to take the red nose off and put it on my car which sits around in the depot all day so no one will see it."
A spokesman said: "Council vehicles should not be personalised and this includes attaching a Red Nose.
"Red Nose Day is a lot of fun, one of many really worthwhile causes but we cannot be seen to support one charity above another.
"We have to remain neutral and fair to all. So, in this instance, we asked for the Red Nose to be removed from the van."
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by john davis, bristol
Friday, February 27 2009, 10:16PM
“is anyone really surprised at this decision?the GREAT was taken out of great britain years ago,us brits are now a minority and its showing.The pc brigade again,no good will come of this.Do in rome as the romans do doesnt apply to us,i just hope i win the lottery and can get the hell out of here”
by wayne, paignton marldon
Friday, February 27 2009, 7:23PM
“well I think with the credit crunch the money raised should all be given to UK charity and keep the money in our country not send millions to other countrys.”
by david nicol, torquay
Friday, February 27 2009, 4:27PM
“can you imagine what it would be like, if every employee dressed up for a charity cause? It just couldn't be sanctioned”
by MaryG, torquay
Friday, February 27 2009, 4:09PM
“To be honest I can see the councils point of view! Yes Comic Relief is a brilliant fundraiser but what happens when an employee wants to advertise a more dubious cause. It would be difficult to refuse if the precedent has been set.”
by pat, Paignton
Friday, February 27 2009, 4:00PM
“I would have hoped that the council had better things to do than to persecute someone who is just trying to support a worthwhile charity obviously the council has to protect itself just in case someone gets the wrong impression............. you know that they have caring people working for the council”