RESIDENTS at a block of flats in Chippenham have been left angry and disappointed after being told a gazebo in the communal garden will have to be taken down due to health and safety concerns.

Yvonne Archibald claims to have put the gazebo up for the past two years and has received no complaints from neighbours at The Oaks, but was recently told by housing association, GreenSquare Group, to take it down.

“All of us are annoyed,” said the 47-year-old, who has lived at her home on The Oaks for 19 years.

“I got a letter from GreenSquare which says I had to remove the gazebo from the garden area but I’ve said I’m not taking it down.

“All the residents in this block of flats don’t have a problem with it but GreenSquare have said they will come and remove it.

“I’m disabled, I walk with two sticks and the garden area is an easy place for me to get to so I use it quite a bit.”

Jan Morse, neighbourhood operations manager at GreenSquare, said: “We have asked the resident to remove a small but heavy marquee-like structure from the communal area when it is not in use.

“While having this in place may be welcomed by some of the residents, it is our responsibility to make sure that anything in the communal area is not likely to cause injury or damage to property.

“I understand it is tied to a communal washing line which could also make this area difficult for other residents to use.

“We will be talking with all the residents at The Oaks to see if they would like to support a community project which could result in a more permanent structure such as a pergola.”