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Disabled woman using commode in social housing flat due to door fault

Stuart Woodward/BBC Carol Aldridge on Chelmsford High Street with protest bannersStuart Woodward/BBC
Ms Aldridge has taken to Chelmsford high street to protest about her situation

A disabled woman said she had used a commode toilet in her kitchen for nearly a year due to a fault in her sheltered housing flat.

Carol Aldridge says her front door in Chelmsford has an intermittent fault and opens at random times.

The 63-year-old said she positioned her wheelchair in front of the door for safety, but this prevented access to her wet room.

Her social housing landlord said it was trying to resolve the issue.

"I don't feel safe during the day or the night," said Ms Aldridge, who said she was at "breaking point".

Ms Aldridge said the fault on the door, which opens electronically, first occurred in April last year.

Stuart Woodward/BBC Carol Aldridge standing next to her front door and wheelchair.Stuart Woodward/BBC
The 63-year-old positions her wheelchair in front of her door to prevent it from opening at random times of the day and night

"In 2024, a disabled woman having to empty her own commode in the outside drain is disgusting," said Ms Aldridge, who has cerebral palsy and mobility issues.

"Where is my dignity?"

She said the noise of the door trying to open against her wheelchair, and the stress, kept her awake at night, and she said she had checked into a hotel on several occasions to get some sleep.

Ms Aldridge said she had reported the fault to her landlord, Chelmer Housing Partnership (CHP), numerous times.

"I am frustrated, angry, emotional and I am tired," she told the BBC.

"How many weeks, months, years have I got to wait? I've just given up because the response [from CHP} is useless."

Stuart Woodward/BBC The kitchen at Carol Aldridge's flat with a commode in the corner.Stuart Woodward/BBC
Ms Aldridge says she has been using a commode in the corner of her kitchen for months, emptying the contents into an outside drain

She has made banners which she has taken to Chelmsford high street to protest about her situation.

"I will shout and scream as loud as I can," she explained.

"It is not my home - it is a hell hole. I just survive. It's leaving me with no quality of life, absolutely nothing."

CHP said it had visited her flat on numerous occasions and the door had "always worked as it should" when they had inspected it.

Paul Edwards, chief executive at CHP, told the BBC: "We want Carol to be able to live happily in her home and will continue to do everything we can to resolve any issues she raises."

Mr Edwards said one of its team visited Ms Aldridge "at least weekly" as part of an action plan to help support her.

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