Firm reassure elderly Blackpool residents broken lift is a 'priority'

The lift at Grizedale Court at Beech Road in Layton has been faulty since January , according to residents, and stopped working last week.

Gail Skull’s father David Skull, 76, has lived in the complex for a few years and has limited walking ability due to prostate and bone cancer and has to go for regular treatment at both his medical centre and the hospital.

Gail said: “Since approximately the New Year the lift has been breaking down, leaving not just my dad, but several other residents trapped in their homes, unable to leave.

“When I arrived on Thursday I found the lift to be out of order and my dad had to go to the hospital for vital blood tests prior to his oncology appointment.

“I had to help him down two flights of stairs so that he could do this. On my return from doing his shopping I had to then help him up those two flights of stairs.”

Gail said she contacted FirstPort, which is the building’s property management company.

She said she was advised the lift had been broken since last week and the part to fix the lift would take two weeks to arrive .

Gail added: “I am really upset with the way things are there at the moment.”

Grizedale Court has 39 flats over three floors. All residents are over the age of 55.

A spokesman for FirstPort said the company wanted to reassure residents at Grizedale Court that the repair to the lift was a priority for the company

The spokesman for the development said: “We apologise for the continued disruption caused by mechanical issues with the lift at Grizedale Court.

“The Lift Service Provider has the repair of this as a priority and appreciates the residents’ difficulties caused by the lift not working.

“Whilst the technicians work on the lift we are doing what we can to minimise the inconvenience.

“We are also ensuring that having closed all communal areas in line with the government’s advice on COVID-19 that any resident who needs assistance whilst they are self-isolating receives it.”

The company has also issued advice on its website for all of the people who live in a FirstPort managed building.

Go to firstport.co.uk/help-support/residents-queries/ for the details.