Residents at a block of Byker Wall flats have been banned from using its communal areas because of people breaking lockdown rules.
A lounge area inside Tom Collins House has been blocked off “to protect our most vulnerable residents”, with housing bosses saying that residents and people from outside the building were caught on CCTV breaching social distancing guidelines.
However, one relative has raised major concerns that access to both a fire exit and the building’s garden has been completely cut off as a result.
Emma Munns complained that her disabled mother, Shirley Graham, was now stuck indoors at the Byker Wall estate sheltered housing scheme through no fault of her own.
She said: “Just because some people broke social distancing, why does that mean it has to be closed to everyone?
“Why don’t they just lock the door and leave keys for people who are adhering to the rules, rather than boarding it up and not letting anyone in?
“Denying people access to the garden will have an impact on their mental health with them not being able to get outside.”
The Byker Community Trust, which runs the sheltered housing block, said that it was not breaching fire safety regulations and that the safety of its residents was “paramount”.
Chief executive Jill Haley said: “Some our most vulnerable residents live at Tom Collins House sheltered housing scheme. During Covid-19, our number one priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of all our residents.
"As a result, the internal communal areas within the building have been closed to prevent the spread of the virus.
“It was brought to our attention, following complaints made by residents of Tom Collins House, that there has been a gathering of residents (and non-residents) congregating within the communal lounge area.
“After reviewing our own CCTV, it was apparent that social distancing guidelines were not being followed.
"In order to protect our most vulnerable residents who are isolating and adhering to social distancing instructions, we decided to temporarily close off access to the lounge area.
“We appreciate this may inconvenience some of our residents who like to use the outside garden area, however, the health and safety of our residents is paramount.
"We have liaised with the Fire Authority on the risks involved and they confirmed that fire regulations for the building would not being breached by locking this door.
“Tom Collins House operates a ‘stay-put’ policy and the lounge area will remain temporarily locked until further notice.”
