Family says Kings Norton 84-year-old 'trapped' in home by council decision

Dec 4 2009 by Anuji Varma, Birmingham Mail

RELATIVES of a seriously ill pensioner today accused council pen-pushers of leaving him a prisoner in his own home in a wrangle over a garage he had rented for more than 40 years.

Howard Billingham is fighting a raft of health problems including painful bones and bowel cancer.

The 84-year-old, from Redditch Road, Kings Norton, is driven to all his hospital appointments by his daughters Sandra and Linda.

But now his family is locked in a row with Birmingham City Council after accusing officials of failing to consult him properly when a garage he had rented for 44 years opposite his home was sold off.

To compound the problem, a pelican crossing is near Howard’s home so his daughters cannot park directly outside and there is no dropped kerb to access a front yard which could be used as a driveway.

The family was told they could rent another garage but relatives said it was too far for the pensioner to walk.

Sandra said: “We feel the whole situation has been handled very unsympathetically without considering the vulnerable and fragile state of our father.

“I thought they would have had some consideration for a vulnerable, disabled elderly man.”

A council spokesman said the garages were sold off so a nearby GP surgery could be expanded.

He said: “While contractually we were only required to give seven days notice, we were mindful of our tenants’ needs, and began discussions with them aimed at finding alternative parking provision two months prior to the notice period.”