Pensioners ’left trapped in their flats’

Mar 27 2008 by Peter Collins, South Wales Echo

PENSIONERS living in a block of flats say they are prisoners in their own homes since their lift broke down.

Richard and Joan Hulbert, who live together in Hope Court flats, North Road, Cardiff, struggle to get down the four flights of stairs from their third-floor flat and rely on the lift to get out and about.

A woman had to be rescued from the lift on Tuesday after it broke down and Wales and West Housing Association (WWHA) has told residents it could be up to a month before the lift is back in action.

Richard, 84, a retired chauffeur, said: “We like to go out every day. We have got to take our time and slowly try to get down the stairs. We could do ourselves an injury. My wife’s already had two falls. We could end up being really badly harmed.”

He added: “There are some people on our floor who can’t walk down stairs. I want to know what provisions are being made for them while the lift is out of order.

“All the people living here are older. What are we supposed to do until then?”

Joan, 81, who met her husband at Hope Court when he moved in 10 years ago, said: “How can we get down the stairs? Lots of the people living here have walking frames. How are they supposed to manage? I don’t feel safe trying to get down the stairs.”

The great-grandmother added: “We pay all our bills – it’s ridiculous we have to wait a month. .”

Anne Hinchey, chief executive of WWHA, said it is committed to providing well maintained properties.

“An intercom facility in our lifts allows the occupant to reach our customer service centre, 24 hours a day, staffed by WWHA employees. Emergency services attended within 20 minutes and she was released shortly afterwards.

“Urgent repair works to rectify damage to the lift doors are now being carried out by a specialist contractor. WWHA staff have visited all residents to ensure that all their needs are met prior to works being complete.”

katie.bodinger@mediawales.co.uk