Disabled mum and son’s broken lift misery

Friday, 15 June 2012

Pair forced to share single room for more than a month

By Ben Morgan

A DISABLED mother and son have been forced to share a single room after waiting more than a month for contractors to fix a lift.

Marion Walker, 55, and her son Colin, 31, pictured, both suffer from the debilitating disease muscular dystrophy and share a purpose-built house in Malpas Road, Brockley.

The disease severely hampers their movement and they rely on an internal lift linking the ground and first floors.

But the lift has been broken since the first week of May, meaning the family have been forced to share a small downstairs room.

Engineers from AmicusHorizon were sent to repair the lift on May 10 but needed to order new parts.

Five weeks on, the family are still waiting.

Colin, who was diagnosed with the disease as a teenager, said: “It’s very hard at the moment.

“I’m stuck downstairs, having to sleep in my mum’s bed, while she sleeps in a reclining chair.

“I cannot have my own space and the whole situation is very restrictive.

“It’s uncomfortable as well. I just want to have a shower in privacy but I can’t.”

Colin’s belongings and separate bathroom facilities are on the first floor but he has been unable to use his own room since the lift broke down.

His brother Trevor, 34, who helps to care for Colin and their mum, has branded the situation “appalling”.

He said: “We are talking about human beings here. No one should be denied the right to live freely in a disabled property they pay rent for.

“AmicusHorizon has a responsibility to make sure the lift stays working.

“This should have been fixed in a week.”

“Colin feels very depressed. He is angry about the situation and feels like he is being denied quality of life.”

A spokeswoman for AmicusHorizon said: “Our contractors inspected the lift on May 10.

“But due to the extent of the damage, specialist parts were required. These are on order but expected to take around four weeks to arrive.

“Once they do, our contractors will complete the work.

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience. We’ll keep in regular contact with them while this issue is resolved.”

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1 comments on this news item

Posted by : sally, south | Wednesday 20/Jun/2012 | Report this comment

i had my extension initially runined by worst contractors i have come across but have recently had it completed to my property in Balham, we used South London Extensions and Lofts this time. They provided us with a competitive quote and were very professional, friendly and efficient Their numbers are 02036271277