Broken lift leaves sheltered housing residents trapped

Published on Monday 2 February 2009 08:52

ELDERLY residents who pay upwards of £600 a month to live in "enhanced" sheltered housing have been unable to leave their home for a week because of a broken lift.

Elderly residents in the Mill House complex in Stockbridge have been forced to take the stairs since last Friday, and that looks set to continue as bosses wait for a part to arrive from Germany.

Forty residents live in the block off St Stephen's Place, and many are unable to negotiate steps and are relying on friends, neighbours or the warden to collect their shopping.

Relatives and politicians have expressed concern at the situation, with owners Viewpoint Housing Association being inundated with complaints.

Resident of 16 years Sally McDonald, 74, who lives on the third floor with her housebound husband Jimmy, said residents were "up in arms" at the problem.

She said: "It's been ricketing and jerking for a while. It's a disgrace really. I'm okay because I'm fit enough to get up and down stairs, but there are people in here who can't leave their home because of this.

"They are totally reliant in the lift, and family and neighbours can help out with getting shopping, but even for the ones who can come and go, it's not like we can carry five or six bags of shopping up these stairs."

And her concerns were backed up by fourth-floor resident Rina Turnbull, who added: "I feel really sorry for the ones who are housebound and I'm finding myself going out two or three times a day."

There are also concerns that if someone does fall on one of the three sets of stairs it could be several hours before they are found.

Inverleith councillor Lesley Hinds, who is also the Labour party's health spokeswoman, said: "One week is an unacceptable time to wait for a repair. In sheltered housing, measures should be put in place to fix problems like these as soon as possible."

Fellow ward councillor Iain Whyte added: "I hope the housing association makes it a priority to get it fixed and provide extra support in the meantime."

A spokesman for Viewpoint said: "Despite our best efforts, the part which has caused the problem is unavailable in this country. Viewpoint has made every effort to obtain this part as soon as possible. However the only way to obtain the part was to have it manufactured in Germany."

The spokesman added: "We expect to have the lift operational again on Tuesday."