White Notley: Pensioner's ten-week wait for boiler repair (From Braintree and Witham Times)

White Notley: Pensioner's ten-week wait for boiler repair

9:00am Tuesday 22nd December 2009

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A DISABLED pensioner has been left without heating or hot water for ten weeks, after a government-funded scheme said it could take up to six months to fix.

Housebound Beryl Collins, 81, and her son Alan Collins, who is also disabled, applied for help under the Warm Front Scheme.

It provides grants to people on limited income towards insulation and heating improvements.

Mr Collins, 57, said the boiler at the home their share in The Street, White Notley, broke down on October 2.

An engineer from Warm Front assessed the problem on October 23 but mother and son have been told a date has yet to be fixed for the repair.

The brochure states heating repairs can take up to six months after the assessment.

But Mr Collins has questioned how they prioritise cases, considering his mother's age and health problems.

"I rang the gas board. They said to replace the boiler £2,500, which I haven't got," he said.

"Luckily my mother has got a gas fire but the gas board said we shouldn't really use it because it's potentially dangerous in the bedroom.

"The house is getting so damp now that the doors won't shut because it's an old house."

His mother has circulation problems and cannot walk, while Mr Collins has arthritis, a spinal problem and has had hip replacements.

Mr Collins, who has now resorted to borrowing money to pay for the boiler repairs, said: "Her carers are having to take bowls of water into her room to wash. We have got a disabled shower but the carers can't take her in there because she's so cold."

A Warm Front spokesman said: "Warm Front will do its utmost to complete heating work as soon as possible.

"The scheme is, however extremely popular and experiencing very high levels of demand at present.

"We do explain clearly that the scheme is not, and was never designed to be, an emergency service and that waiting times could be up to six months.

"We understand of course that customers can face a distressing situation at this time of year and we will contact Mr Collins shortly to arrange a technical survey and to progress his mother’s application as swiftly as we can.”

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