A GREENOCK gran has told how a broken lift has left her a 'prisoner' in her 14th floor Greenock flat for TWO WEEKS - with no indication of when it will be fixed.

Helen McEleny, 82 - who has severe osteoarthritis and recently suffered a bad fall - fears that her ordeal, and that of other residents at Royal Court, could last until the middle of next month.

They have been cut off from using the elevator - which is supposed to service even-numbered floors at the River Clyde Homes high flats - since May 16.

Mrs McEleny, who broke her pelvis when she fell, says she cannot risk making the trip down two flights of stairs to use the odd elevator.

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She told the Telegraph: “It would be dangerous for me to go back down there after I’ve had that fall.

“Without the lift I have 12 stairs to go down to reach the odd lift, I couldn’t get down there myself while balancing the weight of my walker.

Greenock Telegraph: Greenock grandmother trapped in 14th floor flat urges housing bosses to fix broken elevator.

“I had to build my confidence back up after the fall, but because I could go out into my lift and go down to where there was a ramp it was made easier for me.

“But with the lift not working that’s all been taken from me.

“It’s not just about me, there are other neighbours that are suffering because of it.

“I know that for a lot of my neighbours it’s been very inconvenient.

“There’s a lot of older people in these high flats who won’t be able to get out."

Mrs McEleny said that without the support of her friends, family and neighbours she would have been completely cut off from the outside world.

She added: “I do get my messages delivered but when you run out of something and you can’t get out to get extra things like medicines then you have to phone up.

“It means you aren’t independent anymore, you’re totally dependent on friends and my excellent neighbours who look out for me.

“The situation I’m in now is that I’d be cut off if I didn’t have my phone.”

River Clyde Homes has issued an apology for the issues with the lift and pledged to engage with its contractor to speed up the repairs.

But Mrs McEleny said she had not received any letters through her door or been provided with a timeline for the repairs by Inverclyde's largest housing provider.


Greenock Telegraph: Greenock grandmother trapped in 14th floor flat urges housing bosses to fix broken elevator.

She added: “I don’t think they’ve done a good job of communicating with us.

“I have to be honest, I think they’ve failed us in that way. If they told us what was happening there wouldn’t be so much worry.

“If you know that you can go out but decide that you want to stay in then you can enjoy your home and be at peace.

“But when you’re told you can’t go out it puts you down.

“You get up in the morning and if you don’t get a phone call or a visitor, you’re a bit like a prisoner.

“It’s a nice prison I suppose because your home’s comfortable, but that’s what it feels like.

“It’s terrible not being able to get out.”

Greenock Telegraph: Greenock grandmother trapped in 14th floor flat urges housing bosses to fix broken elevator.

A spokesperson for River Clyde Homes said: "We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused with the even lift being out of service.

“We are currently engaging with our contractor in an effort to accelerate the procurement of the part to allow the lift to be repaired.

“We will liaise with Mrs McEleny directly and would urge any customers who are struggling to get in touch on 01475 788887."