Broken lift puts elderly residents at risk

Published in Gloucester Citizen Newspaper on Thu 27th Nov 2008

A BROKEN down lift has left elderly people in a block of sheltered flats struggling for more than three weeks.

Clapham Court in Alvin Street, Gloucester, is a 10-floor tower block providing sheltered housing for 80 residents.

One of only two lifts at Clapham Court has been out of service for three weeks.

The broken lift serves odd-numbered floors, meaning residents have to go to even number floors in the working lift then use the stairs.

The lifts are 45 years old.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton (Lib Dem; Kingsholm) said:

"There are lots of people into their 80s who have had hip operations or have shaky legs and it is very difficult for them to get in and out of the block.

"The other lift is working doubly hard and there is the worry that it could break down at any time.

"This is a ridiculous situation. People are being put at risk of injury."

He added: "Because of the lift's age the part has been sent overseas to be remanufactured -that's not on when you've got elderly and vulnerable people in the flats.

"Gloucester City Homes need to make sure residents have reliable lifts.

Alan Rea, 82, is a member of Clapham Court Residents' Association. He has lived there for 39 years.

He said: "It is very inconvenient and rather worrying. The lifts are essential.

"It has been broken for three weeks now and people are getting upset."

Ashley Green, chief executive of Gloucester City Homes, which owns the complex said: "The lift was refurbished in 2004. We have been working with a few companies to try to resolve the issue. We anticipate it will be resolved within two working days.

"Clearly this is a major upset for our tenants particularly those who are disabled.

"We are really sorry and working hard to resolve the problem.

"There is no-one who cannot get out of their flats."