Robert Lang, 73, lives on the second floor of Christopher Taylor House, an over-55s accommodation block on Station Road in Maghull managed by Plus Dane Housing. He moved in after a stroke in 2011 and now uses a walking frame. For the last five years, he says the lift has repeatedly broken down, trapping him and his neighbours.
Recently, the lift was out of service for nine days before being fixed on Monday, June 29. The same day, the stairlift also broke, though that was a first. Both have since been repaired, but Lang fears the lift will fail again. He says Rubax, the lift repair service, has been called out repeatedly but only performs temporary fixes.
Residents left housebound
Lang said: "There's been problems with the lift more often than not over the last five years. It's starting to fail. Rubax, the lift engineers that come to see us, they are so unreliable." He described how the lift breaking leaves him unable to get out with his shopping. "I get on the chair lift and go down to do my shopping. But it's hard getting back because I've got shopping bags."
He stressed the impact on older neighbours: "I'm fighting for everyone here because there's a ground floor, a first floor and a second, and a lot of them are housebound. We're all old. I'm 73 and I think the eldest is 92. It was like a prison for them." Lang said he now leaves his flat with "trepidation" and has no confidence the lift will work when he returns.
Call for full service
Lang believes a full service is needed: "It needs a good service, take it apart, put it out of service for a day or two. We pay for it as tenants and that's what we want." He praised Plus Dane staff but said service quality has declined since COVID cutbacks reduced office hours.
Chris Morris, executive director of customer, communities and homes at Plus Dane Housing, apologised: "We'd like to apologise for the frustration and inconvenience that intermittent lift and stairlift failures have caused our customers in Christopher Taylor House over a nine-day period. We are very sorry for the stress and worry it has caused residents who were not able to leave their homes as a consequence and agree it is an unacceptable situation. We are working hard to ensure it does not happen again."
Morris added that a replacement part has been fitted in the main lift to prevent further issues, and staff were available to assist residents during the breakdowns. Rubax declined to comment.
