TWO pensioners claim they are being treated like “caged animals” following a decision to permanently lock gates leading to their council bungalows.

Great-grandmother Edna Travis, who relies on a walking frame and wheelchair to get around, has lived at Bethany House in Boscombe for 12 years.

Her neighbour Rose Knox, 73, who suffers from arthritis and osteoporosis, also used the side gates into the courtyard garden outside their sheltered accommodation.

Widowed Edna, 83, said: “Until this summer the gates have always been open during the day so we could get out easily and visitors could get in. I unlocked them each morning and locked them in the evening; the arrangement worked very well.

“Now the only people who have keys are refuse and recycling collectors. Our visitors, including doctors, have to go to the main entrance, call us on the intercom system and then walk through a maze of corridors to find us.

“It’s like living in a fortress. I now have to cross the garden and key in a security code to get into the main building; I’m partially sighted so I can’t even see the numbers.

“There is no wheelchair access and it’s difficult to manoeuvre my walking frame through Bethany House. Before, it was so easy for us to get out into an alleyway leading to the main entrance.”

Great-grandmother Rose, a Bethany House resident for two years, said: “We feel like caged animals; we’re not suffering from dementia but they are locking us in.

“I need a walking stick and always used the side gates. We had keys but they changed the locks. Now we’re trapped; it’s so degrading.”

Edna complained to both the council and the Local Government Ombudsman.

The council’s sheltered housing manager, Andrew Hookings, said: “Our primary concern is for the health and safety of all our residents.

“The gate has been permanently locked for the safety of residents following a recommendation by Dorset police. An investigation by the Ombudsman concluded this was a reasonable action.

“We have offered additional help to Mrs Travis by installing a key safe for visitors, providing access to the door on the opposite side of the courtyard from her home, and also explained that if her accommodation is not suitable we would be happy to move her to something more appropriate.”

But both Edna and Rose insist they have never seen any intruders in the gardens. Edna said: “There has never been any trouble or antisocial behaviour.”