A DISABLED couple has welcomed a decision by Incommunities to allow them back on the social landlord's assisted gardening scheme after earlier being told they were no longer eligible.

George and Margaret Firth, who both receive the highest level of disability benefits due to their various conditions, urged their landlord to reconsider after being refused as the scheme returned after Covid.

They said that prior to lockdown, they benefitted from the assisted scheme at their home in Keighley at Whin Knoll Avenue as they are unable to maintain their garden themselves.

But after contacting Incommunities earlier this year Mr Firth claimed he was later told they were no longer eligible under new criteria.

Incommunities disputed the Firth's version of events, saying that it was because the couple had employed their own gardener that meant they were no longer eligible.

However, Mr Firth called for the organisation to look at their case again as he and his wife only employed a gardener as a one-off out of desperation when their hedge became so overgrown they could barely get to their front door.

After the couple contacted the Telegraph & Argus, Incommunities has now agreed that the Firths can be added to the list again.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Firth's back garden which has recently been cleared by IncommunitiesThe Firth's back garden which has recently been cleared by Incommunities

Mr Firth, 56, who suffers from arthritis, arrhythmia, low-grade lymphoma, chronic lymphodema and extreme obesity, said: “I’m very pleased that they have changed their minds now and our grass will be cut again.

“We only had the gardener come once as we had been asking Incommunities to come and couldn’t understand why they said we were no longer eligible.”

Both Mr Firth, and his 63-year-old wife have multiple conditions, with Mrs Firth, suffering from osteoporosis, arthritis, and she is also blind in one eye.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The Firth's hedge which they had to pay a gardener as a one-off to cut backThe Firth's hedge which they had to pay a gardener as a one-off to cut back

A spokesman for Incommunities said: “Our garden assistance scheme is a popular and oversubscribed service, so we must provide targeted support to those who need it most to make best use of tenants’ money. We regularly review who is receiving this support.

“Last month a member of our grounds maintenance team attended Mr Firth’s home to assess their eligibility and garden space and it was confirmed with us a private gardening service was being used.

“Customers who can manage their gardens themselves or with a gardener are not eligible for the assistance scheme.”

Incommunities has completed a one-off clear of their back garden to make it more manageable.

They later added: “Our Estates team has confirmed that as the paid gardener was a one-off occurrence and we have since had a vacancy arise on the assisted garden scheme list, we are now able to recommence regular garden cutting for Mr Firth.”

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