FURIOUS citizens have been informed that they should get rid of flower pots from their balconies as the council now considers them a fireplace hazard.
Tenants of council homes in Mancroft, Norwich have acquired letters from the town council demanding that the ornaments be eradicated.
Norwich Metropolis Council now considers the offending pots to be a hearth hazard following a protection review.
Quite a few tenants and householders acquired letters from the council’s estate administration workforce warning that staff members may perhaps dispose of the goods in any way the council deems ideal.
Phillip Headdon, 34, who life on a council estate says that he “acquired a letter and chucked it in the bin. We have a couple plant plots but they are undoubtedly not in the way of any person.”
“This all sounds like one thing dreamed up by a council jobsworth,” added Headdon, “I am absolutely not heading to be transferring nearly anything.”
The letters, despatched by an estate administration officer, explained “We have a duty of care to ensure the safety of all inhabitants and these items could pose a fireplace risk or obstruction in the party of an unexpected emergency.”
Tracy Stubbings, who has lived on the estate all her everyday living, suggests that there is “no feeling in it. We’re just making an attempt to make it glance pleasant, it just exhibits a bit of satisfaction in my flat.”
Some enraged residents believe that the council ought to be focussing on even larger problems this sort of as fly-tipping instead than chasing immediately after their plant pots.
Laura Landmore, 42, was told by the council that she would have to transfer the chairs and smaller area of fencing outdoors the second-tale flat that she owns.
She is pleading with the council to be able to hold the fencing that she uses to end her puppy from slipping off the balcony.
“I know it looks trivial but I do not have a garden,” claimed Laura, “the significant matter for me is protecting my pet even though I’m within performing from property.
“You will find so substantially more that wants performing in this area fly-tipping, needles, glass all over the place, but they want to take away some chairs.”
Sandra Bogelien, Green Social gathering councilor from Mancroft, Norwich, reported “It tends to make a large beneficial variance when council tenants and leaseholders take satisfaction in their place and make it glimpse welcoming with bouquets.
“With really serious issues these as drug dealing, discarded needles and fly-tipping blighting council estates, a few crops on outdoor balconies undoubtedly ought to be reduced down on the precedence for the council.”
A consultant for Norwich Metropolis Council reported “We have an understanding of and enjoy that inhabitants acquire satisfaction in the parts around their houses.
“We assistance to help this via our estate advancements programme and the upkeep of communal gardens
“This usually means we work carefully with Norfolk Fireplace and Rescue Provider on our tactic to fire protection in council homes and generally purpose to operate with inhabitants to uncover the equilibrium involving generating their houses a satisfied and protected spot to stay.
“At the similar time, all regional councils have a duty to retain communal spots free of charge from dangers for the basic safety of all people as properly as anybody else visiting multiple occupancy properties.”