Protest leader warns housing officials

Protesters occupied Ms Lewis's local housing office

A wheelchair user has met with council leaders after she staged a three-day sit-in at the housing department.

Claire Lewis and 29 supporters barricaded themselves inside an office in Burnage on Thursday in protest over accommodation given to Ms Lewis, 28, and her disabled five-year-old daughter.

She says she cannot get proper access to the flat because of a staircase - and threatened further protests unless officials met her needs.

The demonstration ended three days later when council officials managed to persuade them to leave.

Manchester's housing director Steve Rumbelow met Ms Lewis on Tuesday to discuss moving her from her flat.

Ms Lewis said none of the twelve properties she's been offered by the city council over the past five years has been suitable, and that her current accommodation is inappropriate.

The council has admitted that Ms Lewis has "genuine grievances"

A solicitor speaking for the Disabled People's Direct Action Network, who organised the sit-in, said the group has concerns which have been left unresolved.

Mr Rumbelow said: "We have had a reasonably constructive private meeting with Ms Lewis at which we agreed a way forward on re-housing."

Ms Lewis said she was pleased the council had agreed to review her situation on a monthly basis but consultation with disabled people was the only way forward.

"Where I live, you open the door on to a flight of steps.

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"They say they'll find me a suitable place in two months, but if they haven't we'll have to agree to widen the area they're looking in.

"But I need to live in Burnage because my daughter's got a special placement at a school here, and it's near her father.

"I can't just jump on a bus and I can't pay a £20 taxi fare to the school and back."