Neighbours banned from meeting on benches outside bungalows over 'health and safety'
Orbit Housing, which owns the properties that line Hopeville Avenue in Broadstairs, Kent, says the items used as a "wellbeing hub" could be dangerous.
Residents have been left baffled and frustrated after their housing association said they had to stop meeting on communal garden furniture outside their bungalows because it is a health and safety hazard.
Orbit Housing, which owns the properties that line Hopeville Avenue in Broadstairs, Kent, says the items used as a "wellbeing hub" could be dangerous.
But residents, many of who are elderly and live alone, insist the meeting place is vital for their mental health – and that losing it would be devastating. They said the decision is "health and safety gone mad".
Lyndon Brand, who moved to the area two years ago, created the hub in his front garden shortly after throwing a party for the King’s coronation. It consists of four wooden chairs with side tables and a picnic bench.
The group slowly began to grow until Orbit Housing posted letters through residents' doors. Brand, 60, said the association said their gathering created a trip hazard. He said the letter "has just made my life hell."
The notice states that if the seats are not removed voluntarily, Orbit will come and take them away. The company has said it will not remove them “until a new location can be agreed”.
The members of the group said they will sit tight to stop their "safe haven" from being removed.
Brand said: “I've been on guard every day since then. I haven't gone out. The group will come out and we'll sit on it so they can't take them. If they get their way and we come out here one day and this is all gone that would be terrible. Our closeness and where we rely on each other, I think that's going to dwindle and disappear."
Shelia Morris, 84, said the group was like her family as she does not have relatives living nearby. She said: “I live on my own, I've got two little dogs and I've got a whole great big family just outside the front door."
Val Barry, 79, added: “We all live on our own, and it gets us out of the house, otherwise we'd be sitting indoors, looking at the four walls. "We've all got sort of problems with health and Lyndon is an ex-paramedic, so it’s great having him nearby.
She said Orbit's request is "health and safety gone mad".
Lucy Brand, 37, said: “I've had episodes with my mental health for many years now, and my safe haven is this hub. Orbit says in its tenancy agreement that it takes great consideration for a tenant's wellbeing, and that it wants them to live happily and comfortably. But as you can tell that is not the case."
Meanwhile, Brenda O'Rourke, 78, said: "Recently, I've lost a brother and a sister and a person I was a carer for. Then in the last couple of months, I lost my little cat, and honestly, if it wasn't for me being able to come over here, I'd just sit there and think about it all. I’d be in a state."
Orbit has suggested a coffee morning for the residents at the nearby village hall as a compromise. But the neighbours say “mental health doesn’t take a break at the weekend” and want something they can make use of every day.
An Orbit spokeswoman said: “The safety and wellbeing of our customers is our priority, and we have a duty of care to keep outdoor communal areas well managed and clear of any hazards that present health and safety or fire risks. We have therefore reached out to all customers on the estate to kindly ask them to remove items in these areas.
"However, we also understand the wellbeing benefits that outdoor social space can offer, which is why we also offered in our letter to arrange a meeting with all customers living on the estate to support them in creating a community space for the benefit of all in a suitable and safe location.
They added: “In the meantime, we have agreed for the benches only to remain until a new location can be agreed."
What are the rules for communal land in flats and bungalows?
In places with shared properties like flats, retirement bungalows and maisonettes are often defined by the business that operates the land. These rules can vary dramatically between properties but usually restrict activities like sports, smoking and excessive noise.
Most of the rules are based on common sense and prioritise keeping peace between residents and ensuring their safety.
Rules often also restrict tenants from modifying the space in general, whether this is to hang up laundry or add a few extra plants to a green space.
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