UKIP Eastern Counties
Pensioners Tell of Housing Battle with Council
Monday, 16th August 2010
Steve Emmens
Matthew Sparkes
Norwich Evening News 24
10 August 2010
Two pensioners have told of their long-running battle to get the council to fix a large crack in their bathroom ceiling that drips stagnant water.
Frederick Painter, 83, and Clifford Stevenson, 79, have lived in a flat at the Silkfields sheltered housing scheme on Mandela Close off Oak Street for nine years.
Until two years ago the pair had been happy in the building, but a crack started to appear in their bathroom ceiling and slowly grew bigger.
It also began to drip water on them and they suspected that a leak in the flat above was the cause.
Both men claim that they have repeatedly complained to council staff but a small attempt to fill the crack did nothing to stop it worsening.
Mr Stevenson, 79, described the £75 weekly rent they paid as a “waste of money”.
“I want to get away from it but I can't,” he said.
Frederick William Painter, 83, a retired mechanic who also served in the army, said: “Every time we use the shower it starts dripping. They reckon they can't find nothing wrong upstairs.”
Steve Emmens, the councillor candidate for the UKIP party in the Lakenham ward, also complained to the council on their behalf in December.
He said: “It's just pure neglect. It's awful, it's not good enough. This level of care is not acceptable. These people pay rent.”
“We want this fixed, we want this sorted for these fellows.”
Norwich City Council said that they had received a complaint and carried out a repair, but had not been made aware that the problem was ongoing.
A council spokesperson said: “Now that we are aware of this issue, we will of course investigate it.”
