Report slates council for leaving pensioners in the cold

Residents at an SKDC-owned complex in Grantham who were left without hot water when a new heating system was installed, were the subject of an independent inquiry published this week.

And the findings left the council wanting in its treatment of Riverside tenants, Welham Street.

In December 2016, Phil Gadd told GM: “My brother is a resident at Riverside flats, Grantham. He has just come out of hospital so needs heating and hot water.

“It appears a new heating system has been installed by Liberty Gas about 2 months ago.

“Since then he rung the council five times to complain that the heating is now lukewarm and it takes over 30 minutes to run approximately 150mm of water in the bath.

“He is not the only person involved. He knows of at least six other elderly residents who have the same issues since the new system was installed.”

Among the criticisms of SKDC in the report, it said there was a lack of a central point to record complaints, lack of action to fully investigate, appointing a project officer not suitably qualified, and providing contractor with wrong asbestos survey.

Recommendations by the inspector, Julie Picken, include SKDC having a single point for incoming calls from residents concerning heating issues, a complete review into council properties, develop a communications plan tailored to residents’ needs, create more of a ‘one team culture and to be honest when problems arise.

Commenting on the report, Mr Gadd said:  ‘It has taken nearly four years of continual effort to get SKDC to resolve the hot water and heating issues for the residents of Riverside Flats.

“SKDC and councillors have failed to listen or take onboard issues raised by residents and myself. I had to ask questions at three full council meetings and received nothing but promises and apologies.

“This report highlights every issue I continued to raise with SKDC over the last three years which they failed to act on. In view of the other issues with social housing maintenance failures it really does question the competency  of SKDC and the political administration involved.”