RESIDENTS at Willowmere retirement home in Middlewich have voiced their outrage after they were told they can no longer keep their mobility scooters in their communal areas.


Willowmere, along with several other retirement homes in Cheshire have introduced a new rule that forces their residents to keep their mobility scooters in their homes.


However residents are angered at the new rule and say they may be forced to move elsewhere.


Norma Norminton, 67, who is a resident at Willowmere, said: “I think it’s appaling how they are treating the residents here.


“We just feel as though the world is falling down around us.


“One of the main selling points when we came here was that we would have our scooters just outside the door in the corridor and now we feel like we may have to move because of the way we are being treated.


“But all of a sudden the rug has been pulled from under us and they aren’t even offering any answers.


“They say keep them in our rooms but there isn’t enough space to do that.”


Willowmere has responded, saying the ban of the scooters in communal areas has come from Cheshrie Fire and Rescue Service.


Debbie Seymour, representing Willowmere, said: “As we would be in breach of fire regulations if we allowed mobility scooters to be stored and charged in communal areas, we have no choice but to do as instructed by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and ask our residents to keep their scooters in their own homes.


“The safety of our residents must remain our top priority.”


Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service denies any responsibility for the ban.


A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Spokesperson said: “The decision to implement a ban on the charging of the scooters in the communal areas is a decision made by the landlord and not by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.”


“Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is not responsible for banning the charging of mobility scooters in communal areas.


“However, it is responsible for enforcing the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order to ensure that people living in shared accommodation are not put at risk of being killed or injured in a fire.


“Sadly, people have died in fires that began where scooters were being stored and charged in the common areas of flats and residential accommodation.


“Therefore, our advice to building managers and owners is to ensure that they are stored and charged in a safe place that offers good protection if a fire was to break out enabling residents to get to safety.”