Council sparks FURY after objecting and ‘threatening legal action’ against Menorah in town centre
A local council has objected to a licensing application over installing a Menorah on its town’s high street, even threatening legal action.
Independent Epping Town Council said that religious icon would be “insensitive to other religious groups” and cause disruption to the town’s usual market.
The local authority rejected the application, which means Epping could go without the important Jewish symbol, which could be “deeply disappointing and upsetting to the hundreds of residents in our local Jewish community”, a local councillor said online.
A petition was set up yesterday to support the installation of the Menorah which claims the council has objected to the Menorah and is “threatening legal action”. It currently has over 2,700 signatures.
According to the petition, the councillor said that neighbouring stallholders have been supportive of the traditional candelabra, and have allegedly not been consulted on the council’s objection.
There has been a public menorah in the town for the past four years, but the plans for 2024 envisaged an electricity-powered Menorah placed in a more central location.
Cllr Holly Whitbread, a Tory councillor for Epping Forest District Council, who is petitioning in support of the Menorah, said that the decision was made by a “Market Committee”, with the full council not being consulted.
She said that the Jewish community is paying licensing fees and taking liability for any possible damage to the Menorah, which will only be in place for two market days.
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“There is absolutely no reason for the council to oppose it, yet they refuse to remove their objection,” she said.
A spokesman for Chabad of Epping, a synagogue in the area, said they felt “significant concern regarding the Epping Town Council’s objection to the menorah’s proposed location, despite there being no disruption to the market or public space”.
They added: “We continue to work collaboratively with Epping Forest District Council and Essex County Council, both of whom have been very supportive, and remain hopeful that permission will be granted for the menorah to stand prominently, allowing the Jewish community of Epping to celebrate Chanukah together with our neighbours.”
A spokesman for Epping Town Council said: “Epping Town Council were made aware that an application had been submitted from Epping Forest District Council to Essex County Council for a Menorah to be placed outside Marks & Spencer in Epping. The Town Council were not consulted about this.
“Epping Town Council have always supported the Menorah and its location on the green outside Argus lighting, where it has been enjoyed by many and would support appropriate positioning.
“Epping Town Council’s Market Committee submitted an objection to the application based on the limited information we were subsequently provided with. The Menorah would be sited where the market was operating and was next to the public highway. The objection was made in relation to the location and public safety only.
“Essex County Council is the decision-making authority, and they will need to decide whether to grant the licence. The Town Council will not be withdrawing the objection they have made to the location and concerns about public safety. Epping Town Council have always supported the Menorah and would continue to do so in a safe and appropriate place.”