Popped to the shops - and left stranded

Julie Gilbert • Published 20 Jan 2010 14:00

A disabled woman was left stranded outside in the freezing cold after the lift in her high rise block of flats broke.

Helen Henderson, 59, who lives on the 11th floor, had popped out to the shops, and by the time she got back, the only working lift had broken.

Helen has been stranded by the broken lifts before - but never while outside.

Helen - who walks with a stick and at times needs a mobility scooter - could not climb the hundreds of stairs at Cleddans View, Drumry.

The first lift had broken earlier in the month, and when the second failed, Helen was effectively left homeless last Tuesday.

She told the Post: "I got the lift down no problem but when I came back home the other lift had broken and I couldn't get back up the stairs.

"I went down to the council offices and asked to be put into a homeless unit or somewhere for one night.

"But I couldn't get any help there so I ended up going down to see Des McNulty MSP.

"I spoke to his assistant who got me sorted out with a wee room.

"I ended up being able to stay with a friend but that's not the point."

Helen had to wait until one of the lifts was fixed before she could return home the following day.

West Dunbartonshire Council said it is working on a permanent solution to the lift problem at Cleddans View.

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This article appeared in Clydebank Post 20 Jan 10

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