Pensioner (81) with Parkinson's Disease ordered to remove hanging baskets from his Bainsford home

A housing association has ordered an 81-year-old resident with Parkinson’s Disease to remove the hanging basket flowers he loves to see from his window simply because he failed to ask for permission.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Jimmy Bain (81) has been living in the Hanover Housing Association premises at Harley Court, Bainsford, for three years now and his condition means he has trouble getting around, so a lot of the time he finds himself inside the house looking out.

Jimmy said: “There was really now view at all out the window, then a man I know offered to put the flowers up free of charge – he did it for a lot of the residents. It gave me a better outlook.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I really didn’t know I had to ask for permission to put the flowers up. I think it’s just stupid – it’s really terrible. I would move, but I’ve got a good home here and I don’t want to change.”

Jimmy Bain (81), who has Parkinson's disease, has been ordered to take down the hanging baskets which he enjoys looking at from the window of his Harley Court homeJimmy Bain (81), who has Parkinson's disease, has been ordered to take down the hanging baskets which he enjoys looking at from the window of his Harley Court home
Jimmy Bain (81), who has Parkinson's disease, has been ordered to take down the hanging baskets which he enjoys looking at from the window of his Harley Court home

And its not just Jimmy, the other residents who have put up flowers and decorations have also been ordered to remove them as soon as possible with no reason given other than they put them up without permission.

A letter Jimmy received from Hanover Housing stated: “A significant number of items have been placed in the garden area without prior permission. We have therefore asked all residents who have not had permission to add such items to the gardens to remove all items completely from the grounds by Friday, September 11, 2020.

“A letter outlining this has been sent to all residents by your housing officer. Regarding your own area of the garden in question I can confirm the following items should be removed completely from the garden area so there is no misunderstanding moving forward.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The items listed for removal by Hanover Housing included two terracotta pots, a blue “coffin” containing two plant pots, one yellow hanging basket, two blue hanging baskets on the fence and “any pots or plants attached to the drainpipes”.

Hanover Housing provide and manage a range of housing and services, mainly for older people and currently manage more than 5000 homes throughout Scotland.

The company has a range of housing and tenure types to meet the different support needs of older people and states it allows “them to retain their independence within a local community and enjoy as much privacy or company as they wish”.

On its website Hanover states it offers aids, adaptations and alterations “to make a home easier to live in, so that a resident can enjoy more independence”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The site adds: “At Hanover, we know housing which meets customer needs can have a positive impact on health and contribute to independence, privacy and dignity.”

And now it must seem to Jimmy that retaining his independence and his dignity does not include the ability to brighten up his premises with flowers.

Hanover Housing contacted The Falkirk Herald and finally gave a reason for the removal of the flowers and other items.

A spokesperson for Hanover Housing said: “Hanover maintains the communal areas on our developments. However, if space allows, we can make an area available to a resident who makes a request.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We welcome the interest that many residents take in creating beautiful displays of plants and flowers and we recognise the impact that staying active and having access to pleasant outdoor spaces has on well being.

“In this particular case the area created by the resident from your inquiry became an issue when concerns were raised by our landscaping contractors about access to complete their tasks.

“We also received a number of complaints from other residents. Ideally we would have wished to have avoided these issues and this may have happened had the resident contacted us in advance to discuss this and seek our permission.

“The resident has been allowed to keep the flower beds that were originally there and also some hanging baskets. We plan to speak with him further to seek a practical solution that will allow him and his neighbours to continue to enjoy their garden and outdoor space.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We also plan to speak with all of the residents at the development to discuss the communal garden areas to see if improvements are needed with existing flower beds.

“If we are able to accommodate their wishes then we will endeavour to do this.”