ELDERLY residents in Sale were left devastated when Trafford Housing Trust (THT) forced them to remove items from outside their flats.

Residents in the 90 Chapel Walk flats on Chapel Road have had garden benches, flower pots and other items outside their front doors for years, but after reviewing health and safety, THT said they had to go.

THT informed Chapel Walk residents that the items were cluttering walkways and balconies creating a fire hazard and they would have to be moved.

But the majority of tenants, who are aged between 60 and 90, were against the proposals.

On Thursday September 29, THT staff visited the properties and began clearing benches and other items from outside the flats.

Many, like Betsy Cathcart, 70, have had to place items in storage, but others saw their garden furniture placed in skips.

Betsy, the former chair of the Chapel Walk Tenants and Residents Association, said everyone was ‘up in arms’.

“They are just taking people’s happiness away from them. We are only allowed two small plant pots and one hanging basket.

“One resident, who is 91, sat on her bench and wouldn’t let them take it and said she would get the police and her bench is still there because they wouldn’t take it,” she said.

A spokesperson for THT said a fire risk assessment had highlighted problems with cluttering in the walkways.

Tony Lowry, THT’s assistant director of neighbourhoods, said: “We fully appreciate that tenants like to personalise the area around their front doors but we have a responsibility to all our tenants and their visitors.

“We have been contacted by a number of tenants who support our actions and have appreciated the support that has been provided.”