You There! Step Away From The Mechanical Monkey!
Another from the British press.This time it is a local council gone mad over an "organ grinder's" mechanical monkey. The council will not let the performer perform until a health and safety "risk assessment" is completed.
Paddy Cooke, 64, has been told by the local council that his act with Simon the stuffed ape must be suspended until a risk assessment is carried out.
Ripley Town Council in Derbyshire has also cancelled a Punch and Judy show and a dance act in recent weeks for fear of the potential hazard to the public.
Mr Cooke, from Crich, near Matlock in Derbyshire wears Victorian costume as he walks around playing his organ, a replica of an instrument used more than 150 years ago.
The former fireman, who been grinding organs for 15 years said: "It's not as if I have a live monkey which might jump at people. Mine is a battery-operated interactive toy and the best I have ever had. He says things like 'I want a banana' and even once offered to tell me the sum of pi squared."
Mr Cooke was hired as part of the summer entertainment provided by the town council and has £10m public liability insurance cover.
Well, thank eavens there were no mince pies involved. Still keen on a nanny state? Really?
World news | Gaius Tuesday, 5 August , 2008
By MikeM, Wednesday, 6 August , 2008 @ 5:32 am
The article also says, "The council was told the ruling also applies to dance groups, clowns and brass bands, including the Salvation Army." I am absolutely stunned! Someone has finally found a way to stop Morris dancers!
By kidrob, Wednesday, 6 August , 2008 @ 5:56 am
its a monkey thing!
By Lars Walker, Wednesday, 6 August , 2008 @ 7:14 am
A bureaucrat is a person who lies awake in the middle of the night, sleepless with the cold fear that someone, somewhere is doing something without his/her permission.
By feeblemind, Wednesday, 6 August , 2008 @ 1:06 pm
Amen, Lars.
By martian, Wednesday, 6 August , 2008 @ 1:38 pm
And without buying a license to practice the action, Lars.