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Faulty lift leaves Fife pensioners like ‘prisoners’ in sheltered housing

Anne Smith, Laura MacDonald and Libby Totten feel trapped on third floor of Carlow Court due to a faulty lift.
Anne Smith, Laura MacDonald and Libby Totten feel trapped on third floor of Carlow Court due to a faulty lift.

A Fife pensioner says she has been left feeling like a prisoner in Leven sheltered housing due to a faulty lift.

Anne Smith contacted The Courier after the lift at Carlow Court broke down for the eighth time in less than two months, just hours after it had been repaired.

Anne got stuck in it on Saturday shortly after it was last repaired, leaving her terrified.

‘Scared to go in it’

The 77-year-old said: “They are making us prisoners in our own flats.

“We can’t go up or down the stairs. We can’t go to get groceries.

“[The lift] has been breaking down all the time I’ve been here – which is around two years – but not as regularly as recently.

“This is the eighth time in seven weeks, and I got stuck in it.

“Even when it’s working I’ll be scared to go in it.

“I use a zimmer, and can’t possibly use the stairs.”

Carlow Court on Carlow Road in Leven.

Anne, who lives on the third floor, stressed she does not blame the staff who work at the Fife facility, saying they are “excellent”.

The sheltered housing, run by Bield, offers residents aged 50 and over managed accommodation with activities and communal meal facilities.

But Anne said the faulty lift is leaving her and her neighbours isolated, unable to leave their home.

‘It’s worse than lockdown’

“It’s worse than lockdown, it really is,” she said.

Anne recently went to stay with her daughter for several weeks due to the problem.

Asked about the situation, and if residents would be compensated for the issue, a spokeswoman for Bield said they are working “intensively” to resolve the issue.

She added: “Issues first arose following a full refurbishment of the lift in early May.

“That proactive maintenance was pre-planned and our customers were fully aware of the works, while a stairlift was also installed for tenants to use.

Agnes Russell, Anne Smith, Laura MacDonald, Nancy Graham and Libby Totten.

“Unfortunately, following the refurbishment, a series of older parts have subsequently failed on separate occasions.

“A variety of factors out with our control – including Brexit and post-pandemic supply chain issues – have resulted in it taking longer for parts and contractors to become available.

‘We have reacted extremely quickly’

“At all times, we have reacted extremely quickly. Indeed, following the latest issue on Saturday, we have a contractor on-site fitting replacement electronic parts and the lift is expected to be back in service imminently.

“Throughout the process we have strived to keep tenants fully informed, while the stairlift has also remained available to ensure tenants can still get to and from their flats and out of the development.

“Our staff have been working tirelessly to reduce any impact on tenants. That has included visiting and delivering meals to tenants in their homes.”

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