Pensioners get locked out (From Barry And District News)

Pensioners get locked out

PENSIONERS living in a block of council-owned flats in Barry are too scared to leave their homes - in case they can't get back in again!

This is because the block's communal entrance can only be opened from the inside.

The elderly residents of the Phyllis Street complex say they have continually reported the problem to the authorities, but to no avail.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It's just so annoying. If we go out, we either have to make sure one of the other residents is staying in, or we have to prop the door open with a brick.

"And if we come back late at night we have to buzz one of our neighbours, which is hardly ideal as we are all pensioners and some of us are not well.

"We reported the problem to the council as soon as it became apparent, which was about six months ago, but it still hasn't been fixed."

The council's operational manager for building and vehicle services, John Gleeson, said: "Personnel from the council will be visiting the flats to assess the problem and to undertake repairs as quickly as possible.