A housing association has apologised to elderly residents stuck in their Cambuslang homes for over a month because of a broken lift.
Residents at Maple Tree Court, many of them with mobility issues, have been unable to get out as they await the faulty elevator being repaired.
The three-storey amenity housing block is operated by Hanover Scotland Housing Association who initially informed residents that the lift would be back in service on October 25.
However, following a further inspection by engineers, further damage was identified that necessitated additional parts to be sourced.
A letter was then sent to residents informing them that further delays were expected as the parts have been ordered but are manufactured in mainland Europe.
Hanover Scotland has issued an apology to residents but insist they are facing “significant challenges”.
Hugh McCabe, 77, who lives on the third floor, said: “This has been going on for five weeks now. The lift was off for four months a good few years back and we asked them where the parts were coming from – the moon?
“There’s people living on the third floor who just can’t get out. They’re trapped in their own homes. A lot of them are older than me.
“Something needs to be done as it’s getting beyond a joke. It’s a horrible situation.
“Apparently they are waiting on the parts coming from Spain. I let the engineers in five weeks ago and they put the lift off because they said the ropes were slipping.
“The following Monday another engineer was sent out and he said it was the brake, the next day two other engineers came out and said it was the brake and the ropes. Now they’re telling us it’s something else.
“There’s 56 flats here and the majority of people here have mobility issues. There are only six flats on the ground floor and one of them is used as the common room.
“I have a mobility scooter, but I live on the top floor and can’t get it out. There’s people not been out their houses for four or five weeks. They just can’t get out.
“There’s not been a lick of paint put on this building or in the corridors for 14 years. We just feel as if we’re being left ourselves and nobody cares.”
Maurissa Fergusson, Director of Asset Management at Hanover Scotland, said: “At Hanover Housing, we place the highest priority on the wellbeing and safety of our residents.
“The ongoing lift outage at Maple Tree Court has caused significant inconvenience, and for this, we sincerely apologise. The impact on residents’ daily lives, particularly those with mobility challenges, is fully understood and taken seriously.
“We can confirm that the necessary replacement parts for the lift have now been secured. Like many in our sector, we have faced significant challenges in obtaining these components due to global supply chain issues and changes in trade regulations.
“Despite typical wait times exceeding 12 weeks for such parts, we have successfully expedited this process to 6 weeks through persistent efforts with our suppliers.
“Throughout this period, our Housing Officers have been conducting regular welfare checks and door-to-door visits to affected residents to ensure their needs are being met. We have been providing frequent written updates to all residents regarding the progress of repairs and available support measures.
“Our lift contractors are on site preparing for the imminent installation of these parts. We will continue to keep our residents updated on the timeline for completion of repairs through regular communications.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding shown by our residents during this challenging period and will continue to provide support and regular updates until the situation is fully resolved.”
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