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Pensioners 'trapped' in block of flats over Christmas when lift breaks down

Sick and disabled residents were forced to spend the festive period at the building in Bristol.

Carol Jones-Evans and Ann Baker next to the broken lift in Hanover House. (SWNS)
Carol Jones-Evans, 78, (L) and Ann Baker next to the broken lift in Hanover House. (SWNS)

A group of pensioners were left trapped in their seven-storey block of flats over Christmas when its lift broke down.

Sick and disabled residents were forced to spend the festive period at the private retirement property in Portishead, Bristol, when the lift stopped working on 16 December.

Many of the OAPs said their relatives had to bring them food and their rubbish also built up as they were unable to leave the building.

Carol Jones-Evans, 78, lives on the fourth floor of Hanover House and has relied on her daughter driving 80 miles to deliver her shopping each week.

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Hanover House in Portishead, Bristol. (SWNS)
Hanover House in Portishead, Bristol. (SWNS)

"Christmas was very difficult because I couldn't get out," Jones-Evans said.

"I am lucky my daughter did come down and spend Christmas with me- all the shopping and food took three trips up and down the stairs."

The building, managed by the Anchor Housing Company, has 30 residents age over 55 many of whom have mobility issues.

Ann Baker, another elderly resident who is waiting for open heart surgery and living on the fifth floor, also relied on her daughter to bring her shopping.

She added: "It's just a nightmare.

"Christmas was very difficult because I couldn't get out, I didn't see a soul

She said: "if you fell on those stairs, you could be laying for hours there and you'd get hypothermia.

"People wouldn't know you were there.”

The two residents alleged nobody from the housing company had offered to help with their laundry or rubbish.

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Pensioner Carol Jones-Evans inside her flat. (SWNS)
Pensioner Carol Jones-Evans inside her flat. (SWNS)
Ann Baker is waiting for open heart surgery and lives on the fifth floor. (SWNS)
Ann Baker is waiting for open heart surgery and lives on the fifth floor. (SWNS)

Kirstie Garlick, the area manager of Hanover House sent a letter to the residents on 29 December.

According to her, the lift broke down on Friday 16 December, due to the lift drive.

Mrs Garlick claimed the residents had received support with taking their rubbish out and their laundry.

She wrote: "Due to factors out of our control, lift parts are taking around 6 weeks to arrive.

"We are working with a stair lift company, who attended the estate on Wednesday 21st to Carry out a stairlift survey.

She added a stairlift to the top 3 floors would be installed next Wednesday.

It remains uncertain when the remaining storeys will regain lift access.

Rowena Hindle, Operations Manager for Hanover House, said: “As soon as we were made aware the lift had broken down we immediately informed our maintenance contractor.

"The main lift drive, which is bespoke to the lift, is being repaired by the manufacturer and the lift will be fixed as soon as it is delivered back to us.

“The local manager and area manager have attended the site and spoken to residents who were home.

"Letters were left for residents who were not home and we have asked residents to also provide us with information we are not already aware of so we gain a greater understanding of their needs and additional support they may require.

"We have provided support to the residents who have requested help and a stairlift will be installed at the location in the new year.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused to residents and are doing everything we can to resolve it as quickly as possible.”