A banner supporting the NHS and key workers was taken down after its owner claimed local residents complained about it.
83-year-old Hilda Uren, who lives in Burnage, had hung the sign up outside the window of her home a few weeks ago but says she was asked to take it down this morning (May 13).
She says she was told by her housing provider that residents had complained about the sign, which said ‘Test, test, PPE. Keep all workers virus free’.
“I was told by the manager that they had complaints from a few people because they said the banner lowers the tone of the area,” Hilda told the Manchester Evening News .
“I was shocked and upset when I was told.
"Everyone in this building has had help from the NHS at some time, but they seem to have forgotten that.”
Hilda took the sign down today because she said she didn't want to cause any upset, but has since posted about it on social media.
In the original post, Hilda said she had put the banner up to show her 'support of all the workers at risk during this pandemic'.
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She says she has lived at the property on Burnage Lane for 14 years and never had any problems before.
“I’ve put a flag out for St. George’s day and a Manchester City flag when it’s a Cup final, and never had any issue with that,” she said.
“I’m not a person that anybody would really have reason to complain about. I would hope not anyway.”
The banner was designed by Hilda’s family.
“They had a sign outside of their home since the beginning of the lockdown and received a great response from people telling her how good it was,” Hilda added.
“They've done signs for others and did this one for me too. But the neighbours obviously don’t think it’s very nice, so what can you do?”
Her granddaughter said Hilda had put the banner up as she wanted to do something to feel involved.
“She’s felt quite helpless considering she’s in the ‘at risk’ group and isn’t able to leave her flat,” her granddaughter said.
“She was extremely upset and in tears this morning - I had to reassure her that she hadn’t done anything wrong and that it was the right thing to do.”
Hilda has also received support from local councillors in the area.
"Hilda's banner is a fantastic display of solidarity with the NHS and all workers, and I would be proud to hang it from my window,” Burnage Councillor Ben Clay told the M.E.N.
"She reminds us that no workers should feel they have to endanger themselves or their families from Coronavirus.
"Hilda quite rightly highlights the catastrophic failure of the government on contact tracing and testing, and supplying PPE to our NHS and Care workers, who have been terribly let down by inadequate political leadership, they are lions led by donkeys."
The housing provider, Onward Homes, declined to comment but did acknowledge that they had received a complaint about the banner.
