Norwich City Council criticised for five-year fire door wait

Celka Mewhort, who lives in Sleaford Green, moved into her Mile Cross home in October 2018 and was told her front door was due for an upgrade.

Celka's current door has needed replacing ever since she moved into her home, in October 2018 (Image: Celka Mewhort)

However, Ms Mewhort is no closer to that upgrade.

Ms Mewhort, 46, said: "Five years later though and nothing has happened.

"About two years ago some contractors came round to do some checks and measure everything up so I thought it would be done then, but then the contractor was cancelled.

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"I feel like I've been neglected and it's very stressful - just one more thing I have to deal with and constantly chase up.

Celka Mewhort, 46, says the back and forth to try and get her new door fitted has been very stressful (Image: Celka Mewhort)

"I just want the council to put in a safe, fit-for-purpose, fire door because at the moment I've had to buy a fire extinguisher to make sure I'm safe if anything happens.

"I'm worried about how many other people around the city must have poor, not fit for purpose, doors as well."

This newspaper has approached Norwich City Council for comment on the matter.

Back in January the city council announced it would need to replace 454 doors in its tower block flats, including some that were installed due to safety fears after the Grenfell Tower tragedy. 

The City council told Celka that the program to provide a new door for her is on hold (Image: Celka Mewhort)

However, Green city councillor Alex Catt has been helping Ms Mewhort and added: "We've been waiting years for the fire door replacement programme at Norwich City Council to be delivered but they should be ashamed of the delays that people like Celka are experiencing.

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"There must be something seriously wrong when we cannot reliably count on the council to deliver the basics.

Celka is worried about how many other people will have not fit for purpose doors around the city (Image: Celka Mewhort)

"We were told in September this year the doors had been purchased and installation would commence in October – three days later officers told me this wasn’t true and the programme was on hold.

"All we want is some honesty about when people will see their fire doors installed and how delays of this nature were ever allowed to happened."

Green Party member for Norwich City Council said There must be something seriously wrong when we cannot reliably count on the council to deliver the basics (Image: Newsquest)