83-year-old who uses mobility aid to walk has ramp request refused by local authority
A local authority has rejected an elderly woman’s request for a ramp to be installed outside her council flat, stating that are some properties that the city council cannot adapt.
Mavis Meek, 83, struggles to walk up the steps leading up to her home in Nottingham, which belongs to Nottingham City Homes – an organisation responsible for managing around 27,000 on behalf of Nottingham City Council.
As reported in the Nottingham Post, the retired shop worker has not been out of her property since August 2019. Mrs Meek had a double heart operation last year and then in February this year she had a pacemaker put in. She is also diabetic and partially sighted.
Currently relying on a walker to help with her mobility and hoping to purchase a mobility scooter, the elderly resident requested that ramp be installed at her property to help her get out and about.
After contacting Nottingham City Council, Mrs Meek was visited by an official from Nottingham City Homes in October. Following an assessment, the council stated that it was not possible to change the pathway from steps to a ramp.
The local authority also recommended against her investing in a scooter unless it could manage access to her flat.
The council has advised Mrs Meek that she can move to alternative accommodation with level access. Mrs Meek, who relies on shopping deliveries and the help of a neighbour, refused the option to move.
A Nottingham City Homes spokeswoman stated that it will continue to liaise with Mrs Meek to try and help resolve her situation.
A spokesman for Nottingham City Council told the Nottingham Post: “We sympathise with Ms Meek but there are sometimes properties that we are unable to adapt and, unfortunately, it appears this is one of them.
“We can only carry out adaptations within the boundaries of a person’s home, but the steps in question are in a communal area.
“We haven’t been involved in discussions about this since January 2019, but the position is unlikely to have changed.”
https://thiis.co.uk/83-year-old-who-uses-mobility-aid-to-walk-has-ramp-request-refused-by-local-authority/https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/walker-elderly-hand-web-size.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/walker-elderly-hand-web-size-150x150.jpgGovernment & Local AuthoritiesHousingSector Newsaccess,adapt,adaptations,aid,Mobility,Nottingham,pathway,ramp,scooter,steps,walkerA local authority has rejected an elderly woman’s request for a ramp to be installed outside her council flat, stating that are some properties that the city council cannot adapt. Mavis Meek, 83, struggles to walk up the steps leading up to her home in Nottingham, which belongs to Nottingham...Liane McIvorLiane McIvorliane@thiis.co.ukEditorTHIIS Magazine