Why council wants rid of the flowers
L13-164 12/2/13 MBLN Residents of Wheatfield Court are angry that the council has told them to remove items such as silk flower arrangements from the communal areas. They have started a petition to protest. wk 7 CP JX
Residents in sheltered housing will see their homes stripped of flowers, cushions and pictures in a council crackdown dubbed “health and safety gone mad”.
Wheatfield Court, Luton, tenants have been told they must remove all personal belongings from the communal areas or they will be taken away.
The disgruntled group have started a petition against the decision, calling it “petty”.
Graham Wright said: “It makes the place more homely to have these things around before you go into your cell –I mean flat. Having them here is not hurting anyone, it just brightens the place up. The chairs are over 25 years old. Putting a cushion on them makes them nicer to sit on. How is it harming anyone?”
So far 100 per cent of residents asked, who pay about £118 a week in rent, have signed the petition.
Fellow resident Patrick Smith said: “It’s health and safety gone mad. It’s been here for a long time, it’s getting more like a jail every day. It’s just ridiculous.”
A council spokesman said: “We appreciate the residents of Wheatfield Court would like to make the communal areas homely and have also left some personal items for the benefit of others, which we have allowed them to do over the past few years.
“However, following a recent inspection of the area we have found an increasing number of new items have been deposited, causing the communal areas and corridors to become cluttered and therefore creating a potentially unsafe environment for both tenants and visitors.
“Items where we have given permission to be stored in the communal areas and have been there for several years will be allowed to remain. The safety of our residents is paramount, therefore we must ensure that corridors in particular must be kept as clear as possible as they act as the main thoroughfare in the event of a fire. All furniture within the sheltered housing scheme must also conform to strict fire regulations.
“In addition we have met with residents to discuss this situation and agreed that fire safe equipment which everyone is agreed upon will be purchased.”
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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