Author: Sonja Francis

A NEW date for the installation of a replacement lift at a residence for the elderly in Thame, has given new hope to elderly and infirm people who have been virtual prisoners in their own flats for seven months.(See previous posting)

Otis Lifts, who told Thame.Net that they recently took over the contract for the work which was originally commissioned in November 2013, have now said that the work to install a new lift will begin on June 2. Two previous dates had been and gone, one in March this year, and another on May 19. No explanation as to the cause of the delays was given to the residents and none has been given so far, adding to the distress of those, particularly in wheelchairs, who have been unable to leave their flats unless relatives have carried them downstairs in their wheelchairs.

Veronica Edwards, whose Mother-in-law, Jean Edwards, lives at Sharman Beer Court, and who wrote to the local media about her plight, said this afternoon: “I would like to thank Thame.Net and the people of Thame for all their help in trying to help us and for spreading the word about this. I am so relieved to hear the news; it will make such a difference to the lives of Jean and the others.”

Earlier in the day, before a new date was finally established , a spokesperson for Sanctuary Housing had said: “The residents of Sharman Beer Court own their homes and this means that the law requires they’re consulted in a prescribed way before works can begin. This is to ensure they have an opportunity to influence any works carried out along with the choice of contractor. Through this process, residents chose to replace, rather than repair the lift. Under current legislation if they wish to change supplier or repair the lift instead, we would need to consult once again which would create further delays.

“We were informed late last week that the residents’ chosen contractor was unable to begin work on Monday, May 19, as agreed, but are keeping residents informed and doing everything possible to ensure the works take place as quickly as possible.

“We are seeking clarification as to the reasons behind the delay and pushing for a firm start date. In the meantime stair lifts have been installed at the scheme to help residents get out and about while the lift is being replaced.”

The many people of Thame, including the town’s ex Mayor, Peter Lambert, who have expressed their concern via social media over the past 24 hours, will no doubt be crossing their fingers and watching the situation closely to see if indeed, some of the town’s most vunerable residents, will get their lives back shortly after June 2.

THERE’S still time to nominate and vote in this year’s Thame  Town Awards. There are six categories to choose from:Young Achiever – someone up to the age of 18 who excels in a particular skill or discipline, Sporting Achievement – someone of any age who has shown great dedication to their sport, Voluntary Individual or Organisation – an individual or group that has worked tirelessly for the good of our community, Lifetime Achievement (can be awarded posthumously) – someone of any age who has made a significant contribution to our community over an extended period of time, Person of Courage – someone of any age who has overcome adversity or is facing everyday life challenge, and Service with a Smile – a business or individual that consistently provides a faultless and friendly service.

The scheme was launched in 2009 and since then, has acknowledged 29 local people with a Town Award for their services to our community. Previous winners include a disabled horse-rider, a street cleaner, a budding gymnast and a resident who has lived in Thame for half a century! Each year is special as it is another opportunity to honour more people in Thame who are working ‘under the radar’ to make the town a more vibrant, caring and kinder place to live. Your winner could be in your classroom, at home, down the allotment or working away on other projects for your community. Whoever they are, if you think they deserve a Town Award, nominate them now!

Either fill in the online form at http://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/images/Online_Form.doc, or go into one of the following locations and fill in a voting slip and pop it in the ballot box: Thame Information Centre, Cross Keys, Racquets, Thame Leisure Centre, Thame Community Hospital, the Library, Time Out and Rumsey’s.

THAME Town Council is asking for views on a potential, new scheme for the community – a Good Neighbour Scheme.

Good Neighbour Schemes are local, voluntary groups which offer a service to those in their local community who may be in need of help or support. Those people who may need the support of GNS volunteers may be older people, people with disabilities, single parents, young mothers, those temporarily in need through illness or anyone who may be isolated in the community.

Help could include occasional transport, prescription collection, dog walking, and even little jobs like changing a light bulb.

If you think you could benefit from a little bit of extra help or if you would be willing to spare an hour or two to help someone in Thame, you can contact the town council either via the website: www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk and take the online survey, or either pop into the Information Centre at the town hall and pick one up, or call 01844 212833.

THE relative of an resident of a block of flats for the elderly in Thame, has been speaking about her ‘suicidal’ Mother-in-law who, with other infirm residents, has been more-or-less trapped in her home because of a broken lift.

Veronica Edwards, whose Mother-in-law, Jean Edwards, has had to be carried down the stairs by relatives, has castigated Sanctuary Homes, the company that manages the flats, Sharman Beer Court, in Southern Road, Thame,  for its failure to get the lift mended, after seven months.

Veronica has even asked MP, John Howell, to help, but despite a visit he made to Sharman Beer, nothing has been done and residents in wheelchairs particularly remain unable to leave their flats unless they have relatives fit enough to carry them down stairs, She has now sent out a desperate letter to any organisations, media or officials about the plight of her 82 year-old Mother-in-law. She writes:

“I am looking for help and advise. My mother in law lives at Sharman Beer Court in Thame, which is managed by Sanctuary Housing. On October 6, last year, the lift broke. Sanctuary house said that they had to follow the leasing law agreement. My mother-in-law lives on the first floor. She needs the lift because she cannot use the stairs – the lift was one of the good factors when she first came to Sharman Beer Court hence why she bought the flat in the first place.

“Unfortunately this is a very long issue regarding the lift. At first Sanctuary said they had to follow the leasing held law. Waiting to go through the protocol of the law, the lift wouldn’t get sort before Christmas, so all the residents, their families and friends tried to get help by speaking out about the problem and getting publicity to get the lift sorted sooner. The local papers and ITV local news have all reported on this issue. We even managed to get the Thame MP to come to the Sharman Court but that didn’t result into any thing.

“For months residents’ families helping them down the stairs has been their only way of seeing the outside world. In our case the only way we could do this was by having two members of our family carrying her down the stairs in her wheelchair. A chair lift was fitted but this was only ‘a bandage on a very bloody wound’ as my mother-in-law, Jean Edwards, can’t leave the confinement of the building without the aid of one of us helping. Jean is now in a wheelchair and on her own, unable to get up and down the stairs on her own.

“I am sure that many of the other residents are in the same place, having to rely on neighbours to help take the shopping upstairs for them while the use they lift. They were finally given March as the date for the lift to be worked on. March has came and gone and no work was done. So we all tried again to get the support and help of the media again, to which Sanctuary House is still hiding behind the lease hold law. Another date was given for the lift to be fixed – May 19. I had a very distressed mother-in-law in tears on the phone at the weekend as the residents had received a letter saying that the lift will not be fixed, with no new date given.

“So after seven months without being able to leave their flats on their own, Jean and the other residents have become very depressed having no quality of life. It’s heart breaking having to hear Jean say that she would rather be dead then be confined to the same four walls all the time.

“Jean will be 86 tomorrow (21.5.14) and says she has nothing to live for. She has always said that prisoners get treated better than she does; as least prisoners have at least a hour of fresh air a day. Jean’s health has deteriorated, and I don’t know what else I can do to help. So I am getting in touch with as many companies and organisations as I can think of. So please could you help me in this battle to find out why Sanctuary Housing can take seven months to fix a lift. We all know that they have the money as Sanctuary have what they call ‘a sinking fund’ which is meant to used at times like this. They have fobbed off anyone who has asked about when it will be sorted. Everyone has now stopped trying.

“The May 21, is Jean’s 86th birthday. PLEASE help me to make it be the best ever by having a date that is real and will actually happen!”