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Corpse 'left in flat for days'
A TENANT on an estate was found dead in his council flat ten days after a neighbour said he raised the alarm with Oxford City Council's housing department.
The man, believed to be in his 50s and named locally as Phil Walker, had not been seen at his home in Bonar Road, Wood Farm, for several weeks.
Neighbour Les Foster-Barnes lived in the same block of flats. He said he and a neighbour raised concerns a week-and-a-half before Mr Walker was discovered.
Oxford City Council said an estate manager went to the property on the day it was first reported - but did not take any action because nothing "looked untoward".
Following another call, the estate manager returned to the property and entry was forced.
Mr Foster-Barnes said when he reported his fears to the housing manager, she suggested that perhaps the man was working long hours or had gone away, but Mr Foster-Barnes said he knew he was between jobs and that if you go away for more than four weeks the council had to be told.
Mr Foster-Barnes added: "These flats have a lot of vulnerable people who are disabled or have health problems and people in their twilight years. They do need an eye kept on them."
He added: "I managed to climb up the stairs and I pushed open his letterbox and I could smell something was not right so I got Claire Kent (former city councillor) to chase it up with the council again."
Mrs Kent said the council did not break in until she contacted police.
Council spokesman Annette Cunningham said: "Our estate manager went to the property on the day it was first reported to her the resident had not been seen.
"Neighbours confirmed they had seen the tenant recently, nothing looked untoward at his property so no further action was taken at that stage. A further report was received and so the estate manager visited the property again.
"After discussing the situation with line management, a decision was made to enter the property by force as keys are not held to any properties for legal reasons.
"The council take their tenants' welfare seriously."
She said anyone with concerns should call 0800 227676.
6:16am Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Andrew, Oxford on 10:36pm Thu 8 May 08
It's always a shame when this kind of thing happens.
The Council do have to balance their responsibilties with the right of the tenants' privacy though.
It's always a shame when this kind of thing happens.
The Council do have to balance their responsibilties with the right of the tenants' privacy though.
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