Council ripped out my new doors

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A PENSIONER who forked out over £200 to have the doors replaced in her council home was left 'devastated and disgusted' after council workers ripped them out just a few weeks later.

Eileen Rogers lived in a two bedroom house in Ladygrove Close in Greenlands for 30 years before deciding to downgrade to a bungalow as she was struggling to get up and down the stairs.

But before the 67-year-old was allowed to move a council inspector checked over the house and told her she had to replace four doors due to wear and tear, costing just over £200.

The pensioner moved into her new home in Oakenshaw towards the end of June only to be informed about two weeks later they had been ripped out and thrown in a skip.

"I just couldn't believe they would do this me," she told the Standard.

"I'm devastated and really disgusted. All I have is my pension, that money means a lot to me and now it's gone to waste. I will be making a formal complaint, it's not on. I was and am so angry."

Council bosses have now apologised to Mrs Rogers and offered to pay back the £200.

Liz Tompkin, head of housing for Redditch Borough Council, said: "Although the doors in this property did indeed need replacing, it was only once the property was empty it became clear structural alternations and renovation were required - which meant removing the doors.

"To make sure our properties are ready for the next tenants, we always aim to deal with maintenance issues like this before existing tenants leave.

"We’ve spoken to our tenant and apologised for any inconvenience as a result of this unusual set of circumstances, and offered to reimburse the cost of the doors as a gesture of goodwill."

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