Anonymous complaints force Spirited Goat’s lawn chairs off The Strand

The popular lawn chairs set up along The Strand by a local restaurant have been removed following anonymous complaints to council, leaving the owners and locals ‘gutted.’ VOTE IN OUR POLL.

Council has asked for the popular lawn chairs at The Strand to be removed. Picture: Instagram/SpiritedGoat

The popular lawn chairs set up along The Strand by a local restaurant have been removed following anonymous complaints to council, leaving the owners and many locals ‘gutted.’

The Spirited Goat venue broke the news on Instagram overnight, revealing that anonymous complaints led the Townsville City Council to request the removal of their chairs.

“We’re heartbroken to share that we’ve had to remove our beloved Spirited Goat picnic chairs from the grass across the road on The Strand,” the post reads.

“Due to anonymous complaints, Council asked us to take them away – even though these chairs were provided, managed, and maintained solely by us as a little gift to the community.”

Spirited Goat partner Don Peel explained that the chairs were intended to create a tranquil spot where everyone could sit, relax and enjoy the views across The Strand.

“We noticed was there was a lack of seating around the area, instead of campaigning for council to spend more money, we thought we’d just do a community service and buy some chairs,” he said

Spirited Goat partner Don Peel. Photo: Keagan Elder

“Anyone was welcome to sit there, you didn’t have to be a customer of The Spirited Goat.

“But then council just called up and said, ‘Look, we’ve had multiple complaints about the chairs’. And I was like, ‘Wow, we haven’t had a single complaint directly at all’. So that was a super surprise.”

“I think it’s just the case of one person spoiling it for all.”

“You know, it’s a real shame that some somebody who’s obviously not happy, I’m not sure whether it was a business or an individual or what, but somebody made a complaint, and the council has an obligation to act on those things so we’re not upset with the council.”

“We’re probably more upset with the system that stops initiatives like that from going on.”

“We have a great relationship with all the other traders down there, so I can’t imagine it was any of them.”

He said they wanted to see the lawn chairs return in some form and would be in contact with the council to see how they could make that happen.

Community support surged online, with local influencer Holly Newman (TsvEats) voicing her frustration, posting, “What crap, Townsville Council, C’mon let them put the chairs out.”

Townsville City Council has been contacted for comment.

More to come.

Originally published as Anonymous complaints force Spirited Goat’s lawn chairs off The Strand