Patricia Toole, an 88-year-old grandmother from Merseyside, has expressed her frustration with her housing association after waiting months for a leaking shed to be fixed. Patricia, who has lived in the same house for 53 years, is an avid gardener but has been unable to pursue her hobby due to the leak, which has damaged hundreds of pounds worth of gardening tools. She suffers from arthritis and health issues, such as a pacemaker and a blocked heart valve. Her granddaughter, Samantha Skillen, has been in contact with the housing provider, Onward, since December, seeking a resolution to the problem.
Samantha explained that gardening is Patricia’s way of leisure and mobility, but the ongoing issue with the shed has hindered her activities. Despite promises of quick repairs, the situation has dragged on for months, leading to Patricia having to manually remove water from the shed. One instance involved workers promising emergency action, only for it to be lost in the system. Samantha even resorted to temporarily fixing the shed herself due to the delays. Patricia finds the offered £50 as a “goodwill” gesture by Onward insulting, considering her long history of gardening and dedication to her home since moving there during the war. She recalls a time when immediate action was taken by the authorities in response to complaints.
Onward has acknowledged the delays and inconvenience caused to Patricia, stating that they are committed to resolving the issue promptly. Contractors have visited Patricia’s home to assess the repairs needed, and they are scheduled to begin addressing the problem. The housing association assured that they are in contact with Patricia to ensure her satisfaction with the repair work. Patricia emphasized the importance of her garden in maintaining her mobility and overall well-being, and the family hopes that the situation will be resolved to her benefit soon.
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