Upton upon Severn residents upset at mobility scooter demand

Platform Housing say they must then take off the batteries and carry them back to their flats to be recharged.

The social landlords want the scooters to be kept away from flats at Thomas Morris House in Upton because they pose a fire risk.

The new rules were brought in after a visit by Platform's fire safety inspector.

But residents say they should be able to keep storing their scooters outside their flats because they have mobility issues.

Lenny Jukes, who has lived at the centre for four years, said: “They want us to take our scooters and park them 100 yards away, when many of us struggle to walk that far.

“We’ve also been told to take off the batteries and carry them back to our flats to charge them, which seems dangerous to me.

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“Two women from Platform came to talk to me about it and threatened to seize my scooter if I didn’t do as I was told.

"They were very aggressive and I told them to leave.

“A lot of us are reliant on our mobility scooters and most of us have had heart attacks or strokes - we can’t be expected to walk that far.”

A letter to residents from Platform’s retirement housing officer said: “Following a recent visit from our fire safety inspector I have been told that all mobility scooters cannot be stored near the building as they are not only a fire hazard but could also cause an obstruction if persons need to exit the building in an emergency.

“Therefore, all mobility scooters must be stored in the shed area and to charge them you will need to take the battery off and charge it in your own flat.”

Mr Jukes, who is 80, said he has raised a number of problems with Platform Housing, including a lack of street lighting outside the flats.

“We only have the one lamppost and it doesn’t reach all the way down - it’s pitch black at night along here.”

We have contacted Platform Housing for comment.