Residents feel 'trapped' by lift

Residents with limited mobility living in a West Midlands sheltered housing block say they have been stranded for weeks after the lift broke down.

Up to 50 people in the three-storey flats in Old Vicarage Road, Pelsall, are without a working lift.

Resident David Hughes, 86, claimed about 15 people with mobility problems "were trapped" in their homes as they could not use the stairs.

Accord Housing Association apologised and said it would install a stair lift.

It said the lift needed to be completely rebuilt but hoped to install the temporary stair lift within the next two weeks.

Out of service

The sheltered housing is intended to help frail and elderly residents retain their independence.

Since the lift broke three weeks ago, those unable to use the stairs have had to rely on staff to bring them their meals.

Mr Hughes, who lives on his own and uses a mobility scooter, said: "There's quite a few people here, about at least 15 I would imagine that can't use the stairs, so they are trapped here."

A spokesman for the housing association said the apartment block was built on a split level and only residents on the second floor had no direct access to the ground floor.

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