12:10pm Tuesday 9th February 2010
By Nigel Freedman
Tenants have been ordered to scrap their doormats - because they’re a health and safety menace.
Fuming residents, who branded the council dictat “ridiculous”, have been told if they don’t shift their homely welcome mats, they will all be binned.
Hilda Tullett, was just one of the tenants to receive the Brighton and Hove City Council note telling her to scrap the mat.
The 60-year-old of Heron Court, Swanborough Place, Whitehawk, Brighton, said: “Fire inspectors came round looking at safety.
“They said there should be absolutely nothing at all in the hallway and we had until the end of the month to take everything out.
“I can understand plant pots and all the rest of it having to go but not our doormats.
“I have had mine since I moved in here 18 years ago.
“We were told if we did not remove them they would take them away and dump them."
A council spokesman said the decision was taken as a result of recommendations by fire safety experts.
He said not all council properties were affected, only those where obstructions in communal hallways were considered a hazzard.
He added: “We apologise if this decision appears petty but this is in the interests of health and safety.
“We have to ensure that any commonway areas are clear in the unlikely event of a fire where vision could be hampered by smoke.
“This is about the safety of all our residents which is, of course, our top priority.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theargus.co.uk/trade_directory/