I entirely agree with Mrs Jackson’s concerns about the lack of a balanced attitude to fire safety from City of York Council’s housing department, as well as a failure to support vulnerable people (City OAP is billed £170 to get rid of gate hinges, April 30).
I have spoken to Mrs Jackson and to her neighbours in Huby Court who are very proud of their flower displays that enhance the area and the way they take care of their flats and support each other as a community.
I have raised these issues with council officers numerous times and been told that the aim is for a ‘sterile environment’ with no room for compromise. Fire safety is of course hugely important and perhaps there was an argument for removing gates on walkways (which the council itself hadn’t been sufficiently aware of in the past). But there is also a duty of care for vulnerable people – for example by accepting the need to foot the bill in this case.
Social Services is quite rightly investing in more support for vulnerable people and the health benefits of engaging with nature are widely acknowledged. I am pressing for the housing department to work more closely with these wider objectives.
Denise Craghill,
Green Party candidate for Guildhall ward,
Broadway West, York
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