By Linzi Watson

Last updated at 14:37, Thursday, 26 March 2009

A pensioner who has been housebound for four years can now go outside after a disabled ramp was fitted in her Carlisle residential home – thanks to its residents.

Jyoti Saraswati

Jyoti Saraswati, 75, one of eight residents at Edenvale in Stanwix, said she lost her independence and found it difficult to make new friends because of a lack of mobility.

After a request for a new ramp was turned down by the Anchor Trust, which runs the complex in Marlborough Gardens, residents secured grants for the ramp and a mobility scooter for Miss Saraswati. But they say they were forced to wait for the trust to sign over permission for the construction. The whole process has taken four years.

MP Eric Martlew also got involved in the campaign, along with his wife Elsie, and today criticised the Anchor Trust for being “obstructive” and hit out at an “unacceptable” lack of action.

Miss Saraswati, a retired special needs teacher, moved to Carlisle from North Wales five years ago. She had a hip operation four years ago and has since been unable to walk long distances.

She said: “Now I am looking forward to watching the cricket in Rickerby park and I have joined an art club. I am so happy to have my independence back.”

She now has a mobility scooter, which has been funded by The Royal British Legion which also built an outdoor shelter.

The residents are now pushing the Anchor Trust for a stair lift, but the trust has told them this is not a possibility.

Mr Martlew and his wife say the trust have failed their residents. Mr Martlew, who wrote to the chief executive of the Anchor Trust about his concerns, added: “These vulnerable elderly residents have been made to wait too long for this ramp.

“They should be commended for their determination but they should not have been made to fight.”

A spokeswoman from the Anchor Trust Retirement Housing told the News & Star they are “pleased” the issue has been resolved. She added: “However, the installation of the ramp was a complex process.

“Ramps must be designed to strict specifications before they can be used by mobility scooters. They must be of a specific gradient. So it was important to get these details right before the ramp was built.

“While we had to work within these constraints, we did make sure that we acted promptly whenever we were asked for information or consent from The Royal British Legion or the local authority.”

She confirmed that a stair lift will not be fitted, saying it was a health and safety risk.

First published at 11:35, Thursday, 26 March 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk