DISGRUNTLED residents at The Reddings walked out of a meeting held on site with representatives of Monmouthshire County Council last week, it has been claimed.

The meeting at the sheltered complex in Bulwark, Chepstow, was attended by John Keegan, head of housing, and other MCC officers, as well as local councillor Armand Watts and local residents.

Many residents are still demanding to know when they are going to be allocated a new warden, despite attempts by MCC to introduce additional electronic equipment to make residents feel safer.

Among the residents at the meeting was Thomas Marr, 85, who has lived at The Reddings since September. He was joined by son Peter and daughter-in-law Jane Marr.

Mr Marr senior, a diabetic, and says he is not happy that he is not getting the services he was promised.

He says he has been put on the 'at risk' list, but does not get a daily call from the emergency control centre at Coleford, as he expected.

He said: "At the meeting, there was a unanimous show of hands for a warden.

"I am not satisfied with the assurances I was given before I came here. I think the residents have been given false information which has not transpired."

Worried about what would happen if he fell ill, Mr Marr added: "The last time something like this happened to me, I was in a coma in hospital in Turkey. I don't want this to happen to me again."

Peter Marr said: "People were so angry and frustrated they showed their feelings with their feet and got up and walked out.

"All these people wanted was a 'yes' or a 'no' answer to their question of whether they are going to have another warden. To keep stringing them along is not right.

"While the electronic aids appear to make them feel safer, they want a warden. They want to press a button and know someone will be there in minutes. You cannot do that with gadgets.

"If they advertised the job I would be more than willing to be a warden here. Not just because my dad lives here, but I also know a lot of the residents."

Peter also claimed the emergency cords in his father's flat did not work when he pulled them.

Head of housing Mr Keegan said he would get someone to check on the emergency cords in Mr Marr's home immediately.

In response to Peter Marr's interest in becoming a scheme co-ordinator at the Reddings, Mr Keegan said: "We will be delighted to receive an application when the post goes out for advertising."

He says the review highlighted a lot of issues and they will be reviewing the job situation straight away.

Mr Keegan added several residents needed to leave the meeting to go to dinner and people did not storm out of the meeting.