Skip to content

Pensioners 'stuck in their homes' as lift breaks again

Beth Cruse
BBC News, West of England
Joe Lemer
BBC News, Bristol
Hear from the residents "trapped" inside Portishead flats.

Elderly residents with mobility issues say they are "stuck in their homes" after a retirement apartment block's lift broke down.

Some people with lung conditions living in the seven-storey Hanover House in Portishead, near Bristol, said they are struggling to walk up the stairs without getting "very out of breath".

Resident Ann Baker, 80, said: "I had to sit on every lot of steps to get my breath back."

A Hanover House spokesperson said they are offering residents with medical needs alternative accommodation while the lift is fixed.

It comes after residents with mobility issues were left feeling "caged-in" when the same lift broke down in December 2022 and was out of order for more than three weeks.

"They were supposed to put the new lift in but they haven't done it, it keeps breaking down, it's disgusting," said Ms Baker, who has COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) which means she suffers with shortness of breath.

"I take inhalers, and I've got heart trouble so we're stuck here" she added.

Three people are pictured inside of a flat. One person is sat down wearing a blue sweater. Another person, a woman in her 80s, is standing up. She is in front of another man, wearing a black and grey jumper.
Residents Malcolm James, Ann Baker and Paul Spence said they have been struggling to walk up multiple flights of stairs

The lift of the building, which is run by Anchor Housing, broke on Monday.

"As soon as we were made aware the lift had broken down on Monday evening, we immediately informed our maintenance contractor," said Rowena Hindle, operations manager for Hanover House.

"We have since ordered the part required for repairs, but the lift will remain out-of-action while we await delivery."

Resident Malcolm James, 78, has lived in the building for 19 years and also has COPD.

"They reckon it's going to take a fortnight this time to put it right," he said.

"I'm a blue badge holder and there's people on the top floor who are blue badge holders, so how are they going to get about?"

An elderly woman wearing a pink coat and pink boots is sat on a flight of stairs looking out of breath, carrying bags of shopping.
Ms Baker has COPD, which means she struggles to walk upstairs

Ms Hindle said all residents have been offered a personal plan to support them until the lift is repaired.

"The on-site manager and I have spoken with all residents," she added.

"Residents with medical needs have also been offered alternative accommodation.

"We are also bringing in additional colleagues on-site to support residents during this time. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and are doing everything we can to resolve it as quickly as possible."

The exterior of a brick multi-storey apartment block with a sign reading 'Hanover House.'
Hanover House is a retirement apartment block run by Anchor Housing

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

More on this story