DISABLED residents in their 80s and 90s are climbing flights of stairs to their homes after yet another of the notorious lifts on Woodford Green’s Orchard Estate broke down.
Attention has been focussed on the estate since grandmother-of-seven Christine Allen died after being crushed in a lift there in August.
Liston Way is home to a number of elderly residents and the lift serving the odd-numbered floors in the 11-storey block has been broken since the start of the week.
Alma Harburn, 85, lives on the 11th floor of the block and expressed her concern that it had been out of use for so long.
She said: “I have to come up in the other lift and then walk up a whole flight of stairs.
“I find it very difficult, especially if I’ve been shopping and have food with me or something.
Sid Thomas, 96, lives on the ninth floor and has been in the building for 40 years. He uses the lunch club on the ground floor and regularly requires help to get to and from his home.
He said: “A whole week? It’s a lifetime, isn’t it? I should think they should fix it a lot sooner really.”
“You have to go down the stairs and walk along to the other lift to get down to the ground. I know that it’s only one flight, but it’s hard.”
One resident of the block, who did not want to be named, said: “As of Monday the lift has been out of action. No-one has told us anything and I only found out when I rang up the council and was told that it wouldn’t be repaired until the middle of next week.
“It’s all very well if you’re young and able-bodied but there are elderly people living in the block. How are they going to go out and get their shopping?
“There’s been no-one coming round to offer them help to go and buy food or anything.
“I think the fact that Redbridge Homes has an office on this estate means we should be better informed.”
A spokesman for Redbridge Council said: "One of lifts in Liston Way has been taken out of service following a routine monthly inspection on Monday 5th October.
"We expect the lift to be back in service early next week. We have written to all residents offering assistance where required. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."
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