Pensioners banned from playing cards - because of health and safety
By Andrew Levy
Last updated at 5:48 PM on 12th August 2008
For eight years, a group of pensioners have met every week at a
sheltered housing complex to play a few games of whist and have a bit of
a gossip.
But now the 14 friends, aged between 70 and 90, have been banned from
the communal room they used because of health and safety killjoys.
They were astonished to be sent an official letter by the housing
association which warned they did not have £2 million public liability
insurance to cover players who were not residents at the complex.
They have now had to scrap the sessions at Neville Court in Heacham,
Norfolk, and are looking for a new venue after insurers told them the
annual premium would cost £250 - on top of the £1.50 each member pays
for room hire every week.
One of visiting card players, Bill Corbett, 86, said: 'It's health and
safety gone mad.
'Perhaps they think that pensioners will attack each other with the
playing cards. The situation is so stupid it's laughable.
'Freebridge Community Housing claim the insurance is a matter of course
but you can't tell me every group meeting needs public liability
insurance.
'They are just trying to cover their own backs. We should not have to
pay for that.'
The card games took up five tables in a small corner of the communal
room at the housing scheme of 20 flats in the quiet coastal village.
There has never been an accident since the residents and guests started
getting together in 2000.
Members said six of the players live in the complex and are particularly
annoyed as they find it hard to travel to other venues.
'They don't understand why they can't have their friends over to play
cards,' Mr Corbett added.
Another member of the whist group, who asked not to be named, said:
'It's disgusting that Freebridge is more concerned about making sure no
one could ever sue them than ensuring residents have a good quality of
living.
'Besides, how on earth is someone going to injure themselves on
Freebridge property while playing cards?'
The crackdown joins other activities which have been stopped by health
and safety zealots, including seaside donkey rides, conker fights and
throwing sweets at pantos.
Last week it emerged a cemetery in Keynsham, near Bristol, had banned
plastic flowers in case they became caught in mowers.
Freebridge Community Housing, which owns and manages around 7,000
properties, yesterday insisted it was common practice to demand members
of public taking part in activities in hired rooms on its premises were
insured.
Chief executive Tony Hall said: 'This can be covered by the group or
club insurance or could form part of the hire cost. Freebridge charge a
nominal hire charge but then require individuals to organise their own
insurance.
'The requirement has been in place for many years but as Freebridge
recently updated the hire agreement it is checking that groups have
their own insurance in place.'
Mr Hall added he would be making enquiries to see if there were cheaper
deals with insurers.
http://www.dailymai l.co.uk/news/ article-1043827/ Pensioners- banned-
playing-cards- -health-safety- dangers.html
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