A PROPERTY management company has blamed the number of parts as the reason why a lift in one of its retirement complex remained broken for nearly a month.
As previously reported, people living in Mulberry Mead, in Whitchurch Street, Whitchurch, were left without a lift from Wednesday, February 21.
Some residents were unable to leave their homes, use communal facilities such as washing machines, tumble dryers and waste bins, and attend groups they belong to.
It also impacted residents' ability to get outside, impacting on their wellbeing, all the while they were being charged fees for the maintenance of the broken lift.
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Tina and Roy Mepham, 67 and 69 respectively, moved into the complex, which is managed by FirstPort, in October 2023 after they both suffered strokes.
The couple’s daughter, Lou Blunden, said her parents had moved into the complex to help keep them 'happy and safe', but said whilst the lift has broken it had been 'like a nightmare'.
The complex, which consists of 25 one and two-bedroom flats, is spread across three floors, with Roy, Tina and other residents living on the first and second floors of the complex.
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Whilst the lift was broken, concerns were raised about what would happen in the event of a fire, as some residents struggle with their mobility. The complex's fire plan tells residents to stay in their rooms.
A team from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue visited the property on Friday, March 15, to devise a plan to get Tina and Roy out in that eventuality, as they are considered vulnerable.
The lift was finally fixed on Wednesday, March 20, after the Gazette contacted FirstPort.
A spokesperson for the property management company said: “We can confirm the lift at Mulberry Mead has now been repaired.
“Residents’ safety and wellbeing is always our primary concern and we do recognise the impact a lift breakdown has. Our development manager has kept residents updated and offered help wherever possible.
"Lifts do experience problems from time to time, and when the initial fault was detected as part of a planned inspection, a lift engineer attended the site the following day. However, the repair process was complex with several parts required.”
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