Brothers ordered to remove Christmas decorations or face $3,000 fine

The owners of a house in Ross Township, Pennsylvania, are defending their right to keep Christmas decorations in their front yard after a magistrate ordered them to take them down. People who live on Fairley Road say the display is an eyesore that is ruining their neighbourhood. 

“It’s embarrassing to have friends over or bring new friends over,” said Tom White, a neighbour. “There’s a Santa Claus urinating in the driveway, where he should put his car,” Joanne Hebda, another neighbour, said. Robert Ansell owns the house and his brother, William, lives there.



A judge has ordered them to remove the toys and Christmas decorations in the yard by May 29 or face a $3,000 fine. It’s the culmination of a six-year feud that started over Christmas decorations. “The neighbours didn’t like my Christmas display, and the township took sides, and decided they were going to find whatever way possible to shut it down,” said William Ansell.

Robert Ansell accuses the township of selective enforcement. “They’ve got weeds, they’ve got building materials, they’ve got a shed falling down out back; and they’re sitting here worrying about me, whether I have Christmas decorations in my yard,” said Ansell. “That ain’t right.”

With news video.