ELDERLY residents in Parkstone have been forced to walk up and down three flights of stairs to get a glass of water after the lift stopped working.

Residents of 35-room Dalcross House on Ashley Road were informed two months ago that refurbishment to their lift would leave it out of action for a month.

However, they believe that the alternative arrangements made for them by Raglan Housing Association were not satisfactory.

Anne Webber, whose mother Betty Bowen, 74, lives on the third floor, said: "There are people in their 70s, 80s and 90s living in the block who are confined to their rooms because they cannot walk up and down the stairs. The warden is away on holiday so Raglan has provided a temporary replacement for one hour a day.

"They were offered alternative accommodation in holiday flats and meal vouchers but they all wanted to stay together and didn't want to be walking around looking for food.

"Raglan could have found them a hotel or a guesthouse where they could eat. It seems like they are just trying to save money."

Marion Wood says she ripped her stomach muscles trying to negotiate the 396 steps to her flat.

"I told my GP who was appalled and said they were going to get in touch with the council," she said.

To compound the situation, a problem with the cold water supply means that residents have to walk down to the basement to get a glass of cold water.

Ted Rhodes explained: "The hot water and cold water pipes are too close together and there is no insulation in between so the cold water tap heats up. You have to run it for 10 minutes before you can drink it, which is a waste of water.

"Before the lift was out of order we could just catch it down but now we have to walk."

A Raglan spokeswoman said residents had been informed of the work in July and told they could be alternatively housed.

She added: "Ultimately the majority of residents at the scheme opted to stay at Dalcross House while the work was carried out.

"The association has been in daily contact with the residents throughout the process and practical measures have been put in place where necessary to assist the residents on the upper floors."

The spokeswoman said further maintenance work was planned to replace iron water pipes with copper ones at the end of December, but that this was taking longer than planned as asbestos in the pipework had to be dealt with first.

She said the asbestos did not affect the water supply and was not dangerous if left in its current state but had to be removed before any further work could begin.

First published: October 19