Retired Royal Navy Commander Patrick Hoare is leading the battle against new health and safey rules that have outraged elderly people living in a sheltered housing complex.

Cdr Hoare, 93, who survived everything the Germans could throw at him duing the Second World War, is furious that he is not now considered capable of negotiating his way round a plant stand or a door mat at Holton House, Corsham.

He and the other 24 residents were told by Westlea Housing Association they could no longer place anything in the communal corridors. The banned items include door mats, plastic plant pots, ornaments, mobility scooters and bookcases.

Cdr Hoare, a former HMS Royal Arthur commander, who joined the Navy aged 13, and is a veteran of the Normandy invasions in the Second World War and commanded a ship during the Falkland conflict, said: “At the residents’ home, all of us are a healthy lot who get on very well together and give mutual help and we have lived sensible, contented lives over many years in complete safety.

“We have been left very concerned, with most of us in our 80s and 90s, as to why endless new orders are making this contentment less peaceful. There is simply no need for these ludicrous rules which only serve to affect our quality of life.”

Fellow resident Ivy Toghill, 90, said: “We just want to get on with things and we don’t need them to tell us how to live in our own house.”

Bob Morgan, 90, a former supervisor at Basil Hill Barracks, said: “When we received this letter to warn us I was disgusted. It is intimidation in my own home. We were all absolutely shocked. They never even met us before to tell us what they were planning.

“This used to be a good place to live. I know I’m nearing the end of my alloted time on this Earth and I would quite like to enjoy that time in peace without this to worry about. They are treating us like prisoners and it just isn’t on.”

A bookcase filled with books handed down to residents was taken out in October without warning – and the books have not been seen since by residents.

Another resident was ordered to remove Christmas decorations from the handrail outside her flat.

Other residents have defied the order by taking in door mats and returning them once housing association staff have left the premises.

The health and safety rules have been introduced just as the Government has issued a new white paper calling for health and safety bosses to use common sense when making rules. The paper was endorsed by Prime Minister David Cameron who said: “Good straight forward legislation has been extended inappropriately to cover every walk of life, no matter how low the risk.”

The new rules were also imposed upon Jargeau Court sheltered housing in Grove Road, Corsham, where seating was removed from the foyer. Residents argued against the rules and the housing association has since backtracked on the policy.

Resident June Witts said: “The seating was taken away and we contacted the housing association to say that we wanted to keep the seating as it is useful for people who wait for taxis to arrive. They have since reinstated the seating.

“We had been told pictures were not allowed in the corridors but they have now conceded that stretched canvases will be allowed because they are fire-proof and do not have glass attached to them.”

Sarah Bradbury, Westlea’s older persons service manager, said: “We are acting on the advice of fire service officials, who have carried out inspections of our sheltered housing schemes, and meeting our legal obligation to ensure communal areas are kept safe for all residents.

“Government legislation states that hallways, corridors, and emergency exit routes must be kept clear at all times and free from any obstructions, and slip or trip hazards. Obviously this affects only the communal areas used by all residents and visitors, not the inside of residents’ homes.

“Sadly, there have been several high profile cases elsewhere in the country where these standards have not been applied and people have died when attempting to escape a fire.

“We have made every effort to explain the reasons for this approach to residents via letters, newsletters, and meetings – and have also tried to be as flexible as we can within the law.

“We have agreed that some fire retardant items of furniture, and pot plants in ceramic pots, for example, can remain, and we have had to make alternative arrangements for the storage of some of the other items that had previously been kept in the hallways.”

Picture caption: Retired Commander Patrick Hoare, centre, with fellow Holton House residents, from left, Sheila Phipps, Chris Lockey, Bob Morgan, Lillian Brenchley, Olive Meredith and Ivy Toghill prepare to fight back against the new health and safety regulations that they say are marring their quality of life.