Council bans danger doormats

Council officials have ordered tenants to ditch their outside doormats as they pose a 'tripping risk'.

Health and safety officials at Bristol City Council say 'hazardous mats' outside doors could hamper escape routes.

The council will let people keep mats inside their own front doors - but say all outside mats must go.

Ted Marshall, chairman of the Brookridge House tenants association in Henbury, said: "These people must be sitting in offices with nothing better to do."

Another tenant, retired gardener Roger Perry, 62, of Henbury, Bristol, intends to defy the ban. He said: "It is so pointless. I'm keeping mine here to see what they do. If they take it, that's theft."

All the council's 32,000 tenants got a letter demanding removal of mats by September 18.

It told them they "represent a tripping hazard and they should be removed immediately".

A city council spokeswoman insisted that the crackdown was a long-standing policy and the letter was simply a reminder.

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That is truly crazy.
If I lived there then I wouldn't even be able to have a doormat because my front door opens inwards and doesn't leave enough space for a mat.
What are the people who have inward swinging doors going to do? Huh???
Joking It is still crazy though..

so silly .

wow, that's weird

this is what happens when people in power are bored

No one better ever try to take away my right to having my doormat.
(read with red-neck accent): Them'd be-a openin' one big can of whoop-a**!

Sadly that's all to typical for the UK. The council obviously don't want to risk being sued when someone trips over a doormat.

It's the 'sue you culture' I'm afraid, no such thing as an accident anymore

Maybe it is because it is late but: it says all 32,000 councils tenants got notices. Is this different housing projects, apartments, a city, office building? What type of area are they talking about?

^Does it really matter?

I heard a lady had an accident while mowing her lawn a couple of weeks ago and she died. What are they going to ban next...lawn mowers or lawns?

edit:Next has to be bathrooms...I've heard that more deaths happen in them than anywhere.

very true




First the door mat then the bath mat. *Hides door and bath mats in cupboard*

It's sort of like low cost government housing. That's what Americans could equate it too. Councils are like the equivalent of city councils and they run housing projects in each village.

That's the closest American comparison I could give you so you could understand it. It would be kind of like living in a neighborhood with covenants. That any better?

I actually live here (Bristol) & boy you don't know how right you are.

bored people in power are a danger to everyone, case and point this doormat thing

wow now thats unfair to doormats