A COUNCIL wants to rip up the carpet in a block of flats because it is a target for “opportunist arson attacks”.

Mary Wolff is fighting Wiltshire Council’s plans to remove the flooring – ten years after her mother won a battle to have it laid.

In 2005 Salisbury District Council refused to allow Marjorie Gough a carpet in the communal area outside her flat due to health and safety fears.

But following a report in the Avon Advertiser, the council made a U-turn and allowed her to have a carpet fitted, which she paid for herself. Now the flat is owned by her daughter.

Wiltshire Council, which owns the other three apartments in the Denison Rise maisonette, said the carpet would have to be removed because of “health, safety and fire reasons”.

The council says it would be a target for “opportunist arson attacks” and is a “source of ignition to smokers”.

Mary said the carpets made the bare concrete communal area more inviting for guests.

“It looked horrendous [before the carpet was fitted],” Mary said. “They were properly done so people won’t trip over them.”

She added the carpet was in good condition and all the residents take care to clean it.

Jane Scott, who lives on the ground floor, suffers from epilepsy and fears that she could suffer serious injury if she falls onto the concrete during a seizure.

“They are not thinking about people with disabilities,” she said. “If I fall in the hall without carpets I could hurt my head quite badly.”

A spokesman for Wiltshire Council said: “We understand people may wish to personalise the shared entrance to these properties, however the safety of all residents has to be our main concern. Carpet can present a fire risk which is why we’ve asked for carpet laid by residents to be removed from all communal areas.

However we’d like to work with residents to consider other options for brightening up these areas.”