RESIDENTS from across Newport have spoken out about their anger after having had to hand in the keys of garages they’ve rented out for decades.

Earlier in the month, the Argus reported that Malpas residents who rented garages in Blaen y Pant crescent had been asked to empty their garages because of potential safety risks caused by structural problems. The garages are set to be demolished at an unspecified future date.

Eugenia Kaye, 71, of Byron Road, has rented out a garage in Anderson Close for 52 years.

She has been asked to empty it by next Wednesday.

Miss Kaye said: “I got the garage in 1956 when they were first built - I could own it by now. I would like to see what the survey said and I’d like to have an exact date of the demolition.

“These garages are in good condition, they put new roofs last year.”

Seventy-five-year-old Michael Brunnock, of Roman Way, Caerleon, was in the same situation as Miss Kaye and had to hand in the keys of the garage he rented for 50 years in Bellin Close.

He said: “I dispute the reasons they’re giving, I don’t consider my garage unsafe.

“I want them to prove it’s in an estate of collapse.

“Just before it was handed to Newport city Homes, Newport council put a new metal door.”

Mr Brunnock said that he and other residents have offered to buy the garages but claimed he didn’t have a response to his calls for a week.

“I don’t want to lose my garage, I don’t want to park my car on the road,” he said. “I want to know my car is safe in my garage.”

Mike Jones, 65, of Malcolm Sargent Close, in Ringland, has rented out a garage in Quilter Close for more than 20 years. He had to hand in the keys of his garage last week.

He said: “I’m so angry, there’s nothing wrong with my garage. They put a new roof on my garage last year.

“If they had done the inspection then, they could have save the money.”

Mr Jones said that parking is very limited at the moment and that, if they are knocking the garages down because they’re dangerous, they should a car park on its place.

“No more housing,” he said. “People are already parking on the pavement.”

Newport City Homes previously explained that they have assessed all their garages and those deemed as a potential risk are being emptied.

Sharon Wilkins, head of housing and customer services said: “We also have a responsibility to spend our residents’ money wisely and make sure that we get value for money.

“With this in mind, where we find garages that require repairs that are too expensive, they will be demolished.

“We apologise that it hasn’t been possible to do any prior consultation, but safety has to be the priority and we have had to act quickly.”