A GREENOCK pensioner fearing for her health in a flat infested with MUSHROOMS has told how she's been pleading with housing bosses for the last SEVEN MONTHS.
Norma Lapsley, 78, needs to wear a mask when using her kitchen and now keeps most of her utensils in her living room because of large fungal growths which have sprouted from the walls.
She first contacted River Clyde Homes (RCH) in January after she noticed her wallpaper starting to peel and brown.
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She says the problem continued to grow worse until mushrooms began to grow along the seam between the ceiling and the walls, and the room’s walls are now infested with the troublesome toadstools.
Regent Court resident Mrs Lapsley, who has a pacemaker and has previously suffered from respiratory problems, told the Telegraph she was concerned that spores from the fungus or the damp that has spread along the walls could harm her health.
She said: “This is the worst it’s been and it’s been like this for a couple of months.
“People tell me to leave but I don’t think I should have to, it’s River Clyde Homes that need to fix it.
“If I wasn’t paying my rent they would have me out, but my rent is paid every week and I’m still dealing with this.
“I put a mask on every time I go into the kitchen because of the smell but also because of my pacemaker. I don’t how it could affect my health.
“My son has asthma as well and when he comes up, I have to keep him away from there.
“But I have to eat so I can’t stay out of it completely.
“I just want to burst into tears sometimes.
“This isn’t a fit flat for someone to live in with the way the kitchen is.
“I really don’t want to move because I like this area, I just want this fixed and I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
Mrs Lapsley, who has been an RCH tenant for more than four decades, says her oven is now the only kitchen appliance she uses.
She and her outraged family have raised a complaint with RCH about her situation.
Her sister, Sandra, said her relatives were 'furious' about the situation.
She said: “We were told by a housing officer that the wall would have to come down and they’d do her kitchen up for her.
“But in between all that the mushrooms have been growing and getting worse.
“Three times they’ve been up to take the mushrooms off the walls but it’s still not sorted.
“We’ve been told by River Clyde Homes that the mushrooms aren’t dangerous, but we’ve looked it up and you get spores which can be dangerous.
“She’s sitting in hoping somebody’s going to fix it and nobody’s appearing.
“We’re so angry, all of the family, the mess her house is in it’s terrible.
“I can’t believe they’ve put her - one of their tenants - in this mess.”
In response to Mrs Lapsley’s comments, an RCH spokesperson said: “We take our tenants health and wellbeing extremely seriously and we endeavour to ensure situations of this nature are dealt with as a matter of urgency.
“We have carried out numerous repairs at Regent Court over the last few months; unfortunately, these have not been effective, for which we apologise.
“We are continuing investigations into the cause of problem.
“Our team continue to engage with Mrs Lapsley, and we will explore the option of suitable alternative accommodation over the duration of any works.”
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