A DISABLED pensioner confined to her living room has received the news she has been waiting for.
At the end of the month, contractors are due to widen the doors to Mary Blackwell’s bedroom and bathroom so that she can use the toilet and sleep in her bed for the first time in eight months.
The 80-year-old, of New Road, Childer Thornton, was struck down last June by an inability to stand without suffering intense pain.
It means she cannot go to her bedroom to sleep or use the bathroom.
Her brother, 64-year-old John Peak, a former site manager at Vauxhall Ellesmere Port, travels from his home in Anglesey to visit his sister.
He has tirelessly pursued council offices to get them to do something about it.
On Tuesday, an inspection was carried out to determine if there is any asbestos in the walls.
Mary suspects they are looking for an excuse not to do the work.
She said: “All the other flats had fitted kitchens and bathrooms but there were no checks then. Why only this one?”
Last week Mark Palethorpe, director of Adult Social Care & Health at Cheshire West and Chester Council, formally recognised John’s concerns as a formal complaint.
He asked the council’s solutions team to log his concerns so that they can be thoroughly investigated.
Geoff Barnes, programme officer at the council’s Housing Services Asset Management unit told John the contractor Bro Build says work will start before the end of this month – but he still has not been given a specific date.
He has asked them if the work can be brought forward in recognition of the urgency of the situation.
