Anger over ban on clearing snow from path

It was an act of kindness that brought great comfort to 90-year-old Joyce Burt.

After eight days snowed in, the pensioner's kind-hearted neighbour cleared the drifts from the footpath of her Willenhall home, enabling her to go outside.

But the grandmother's joy has now turned to anger after landlord Walsall Housing Group wrote a letter to Michael Lander telling him not to do it again — because of fears over health and safety.

The 60-year-old lollipop man was then ticked off by housing staff at a meeting, but today vowed: "I'd do it all again." Mrs Burt, a former care worker, said she had been delighted when

Mr Lander knocked on her door and offered to clear the path so she could get her usual taxi to the shops.

"He spent all afternoon clearing the snow and ice. I was able to call a taxi and go into town for a short while," said the grandmother-of-seven.

"I don't like to be inside all the time and I missed going out."

But days later Mr Lander, who lives in an adjacent block of flats to Mrs Burt's home was sent the letter, before meeting with housing officers who told him his actions were dangerous.

"I feel very upset about it because I thought it was such a kind thing for someone to do," said Mrs Burt. Mr Lander, who helps the children of Fibbersley Park Primary School cross the road, said: "To me it's a little bit childish.

"If the other residents ask me to do it, then I will clear up the snow. I've been doing it for years."

Walsall Housing Group spokeswoman Lyndsey Hunt praised Mr Lander for his community spirit and said he had acted with the "best intentions".

"At the same time we were made aware — by another resident — that as a result of the snow being cleared the path had become more slippery and the potential danger of this was explained to Mr Lander in person by one of our team," she added.