Bah, humbug # 5: Tesco bans Chistmas carols because of health and safety fears

Tesco bans Chistmas carols because of health and safety fears

Last updated at 09:30am on 10th December 2007 Comments

Scrooge: Tesco stops charity Christmas carol band from playing in store because 'they cause congestion'

Supermarket giant Tesco has stopped a band playing traditional festive carols in a store - because of health and safety reasons.

The company has changed its policy and now shoppers have to listen to taped music instead of seeing a live rendition of the yutetide favourites.

At the giant Blackpool store the Guardian Concert Band which plays for charity were suddenly halted yesterday by the management after playing four traditional carols.

Shoppers had been singing and humming along in the aisles when the ten-strong band was told to finish 90 minutes early.

Band secretary Neil Coleridge-Smith fumed: "Our concert had been booked well in advance. We have played at Tescos for years.

"We had a 1.30 to 12.30 slot and we were provided with chairs and offical Tesco lapel badges.

"But after about thirty minutes a security officer came up to us after we had completed Silent Night.

"He said he had a message from the store manager who had had a message from head office that we were no longer allowed to play.

"When I asked why he said it was for Health and Safety reasons and to avoid congestion. "The feeling of our bass player was that they merely wanted more space for the poinsettia display - because that is what they moved in when we left.

"I don't know what Health and Safety issue a brass band consists off - we were hardly marching up and down the shop. We were just sat in the foyer. I think it is some sort of Christmas Scrooge humbug."

A Tesco spokesman said: "This is now company health and safety policy. It is unfortunate that the band had started to play. They should have been contacted in advance."

Shoppers were livid about the move. Retired civil servant Alan Ashley, 66, said : "I asked the band why they were leaving so quickly and they told me. There was no congestion issue.

"I think they were offered a cup of coffee to play in the car park instead but refused and went home."

Another shopper hit out, saying: "The only health and safety problem in that store are the people who can't push a trolly straight. The music added a bit of Christmas atmosphere."