A SOCIAL housing landlord has been criticised for not making a route safe out of its car park in Tavistock — which effectively resulted in residents being 'prisoners in their own flats' during the bad weather writes Alison Stephenson.

Kate Camara, who has a parking space in the car park adjacent to Godolphin House, said the week before Christmas the car park was like a skating rink and very dangerous — and last week it remained under several inches of snow.

Despite messages left on the answer machine of owners West Devon Homes over the Christmas period, no attempt had been made to clear a path through the car park.

Abbey Rise Car Park, which residents of Goldolphin House also had to drive through to reach the main road, was also too slippery to get a grip on, she said. She reported this to West Devon Borough Council who own the car park but, again, nothing was done.

'I, of course, like thousands of others, was able to walk to the bus stop and take the bus,

'However, the residents of Godolphin House include two tenants in wheelchairs, several very elderly ladies, a mother with a young child and people on crutches,'

'All these people usually walk across the car park, down the small alley between the architect's office and 2a Dolvin Road to the main road. Because the car park was under several inches of snow it has meant that they have been prisoners in their flats for most of the week.'

Chief executive of West Devon Homes, Jean Peters, said there was a bin for grit and salt for use of residents at Godolphin House and this had been filled up on December 31 with a 25 kilo bag, but with salt and grit supplies in decline it was becoming difficult to replenish.

'Our tenants are suffering across the country and people need to take care when they are out and about and make decisions when they are walking and travelling,' she said.

'In terms of our sheltered accommodation paths are gritted by us but with general accommodation like Godolphin House we put the bins there so people can help themselves.'

She said when the office in Tavistock was closed there was a 24 out-of-hours service in operation where queries could be dealt with and helped called out if necessary.

West Devon Borough Council said it apologised for any inconvenience but it had been unable to obtain any grit or salt to clear snow and ice in its car parks as Devon County Council was maintaining its stock to keep the main roads clear into towns and villages.