'You feel like a school kid' - Fears over Brierley Hill flat fires costing disabled tenants’ independence

Disabled people in Brierley Hill say they are losing their independence due to Dudley Council’s tough stance on mobility scooters.

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Tenants in high-rise blocks in Brierley Hill have to apply to the council for permission to buy a scooter and must only store and charge it up in their own flats.

The council argues that scooters stored in communal areas might catch fire while being charged and block up corridors, but one resident in Dean Court says the authority is not listening.

Richard England, aged 60, said: “I couldn’t get my scooter into the flat, it was just impossible without other people. I had to have a larger scooter – it wasn’t safe.

“Other people have had cards through the door and been told to get rid of them or move.”

Mr England, a retired agricultural worker and former health and safety officer, says narrow corridors in flats mean the only place to store a scooter is by the door, which would trap people if it were set alight.

He stored and charged his scooter on a balcony, but the council was not satisfied, and eventually he switched to a wheelchair which folds up.

He added: “It’s a catch-22 situation: you can’t charge it up unless you bring it into your flat but you can’t get it into your flat so you lose your independence.

“You feel like a school kid – sometimes you end up with a naughty card. They are not talking, just demanding.”

Richard England and his wife Gaynor on the balcony where he used to store his scooter until Dudley Council officers insisted he should keep it in his flat. Picture Martyn Smith/LDRS free for LDRS use — Richard England and his wife Gaynor on the balcony where he used to store his scooter until Dudley Council officers insisted he should keep it in his flat. Photo: Martyn Smith/LDRS

Councillor Ian Bevan, Dudley cabinet member for housing and communities, said: “For the safety and wellbeing of all our tenants, we naturally must follow strict protocols on what can be left in public access areas in our flats.

“Any residents who require additional equipment, such as a mobility scooter, can contact our housing officers so we can look at how we can best support them.”

Brierley Hill councillor Matt Cook says the council is failing in its legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people to make sure they are not disadvantaged.

He believes the authority should invest in safe storage and charging points for scooters.

Councillor Cook said: “Of course we must take fire safety seriously, but that cannot come at the cost of marginalising vulnerable residents.

“There are practical, inclusive solutions that can both protect lives and uphold dignity. Denying people access to mobility aids is not one of them.

“I think it has a lot to do with finances but, for vulnerable people, it’s not their fault the council’s finances are the way they are.”

A letter from the council’s housing team to Councillor Cook said: “Whilst the council recognises the value of mobility scooters to tenants to maintain their independence, the council also has a duty to others within the block to keep them safe and adhere to a high standard of health and safety.

“The council has a zero tolerance to any items being stored in the communal areas.”