Mulberry Mead, Whitchurch, lift broken for more than a month

People living in Mulberry Mead, in Whitchurch Street, were left without a lift from Wednesday, February 21, which they say has been ‘like a nightmare’.

Some residents have been left unable to leave their homes, use communal facilities such as washing machines, tumble dryers and waste bins, and attend groups they belong to.

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It has also impacted residents' ability to get outside, impacting on their wellbeing, all the while residents are charged fees for the maintenance of the broken lift.

Tina and Roy Mepham, 67 and 69 respectively, moved into the complex , which is managed by FirstPort, in October 2023 after they both suffered strokes.

The couple’s daughter, Lou Blunden, said her parents had moved into the complex to help keep them 'happy and safe', but said since the lift has broken it had been 'like a nightmare'.

Roy said: “For me it’s gone on long enough and is a massive inconvenience, just to do the basics can be so frustrating. My balance is not great and having to carry a big bag of washing down the stairs, and struggle all the way down, before struggling all the way back up is not right. It feels like you're being penalised."

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The complex, which consists of 25 one and two-bedroom flats, is spread across three floors, with Roy, Tina and other residents living on the first and second floors of the complex.

Lou said: “It’s been a month already; you don’t expect to come and visit your mum on Mother’s Day and she’s in tears because you can’t take her out.

"We moved out of our family home of 42 years to make life easier for mum and dad, and it’s been nothing but a nightmare since.”

She continued: “I’ve noticed a difference in mum's mental health because of the conditions and they can't get out and socialise, it's really difficult for them and us as the family as it feels like they've just been stranded."

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The broken lift has prevented Tina from attending Kingfisher Day Centre in Laverstoke, which is where she socialises, takes part in activities, and also showers and has her hair washed. She has not been able to attend the day centre since the lift broke.

Another resident, Cathy, who did not want her surname published, said the last update residents had received was that the lift was due to be fixed on Monday, March 18, but on Tuesday, March 19, the lift was still not working.

The lift was finally fixed on Wednesday, March 20, after the Gazette contacted FirstPort. 

A spokesperson for the property management company said: “We can confirm the lift at Mulberry Mead has now been repaired.

“Residents’ safety and wellbeing is always our primary concern and we do recognise the impact a lift breakdown has. Our development manager has kept residents updated and offered help wherever possible. Lifts do experience problems from time to time, and when the initial fault was detected as part of a planned inspection, a lift engineer attended the site the following day. However, the repair process was complex with several parts required.”

Concerns were also been raised about what would happen in the event of a fire, as some residents struggle with their mobility. The complex's fire plan tells residents to stay in their rooms.

A team from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue visited the property on Friday, March 15, to devise a plan to get Tina and Roy out in that eventuality, as they are considered vulnerable.

A spokesperson for the property management company said: “We can confirm the lift at Mulberry Mead has now been repaired.”

“Residents’ safety and wellbeing is always our primary concern and we do recognise the impact a lift breakdown has.  Our Development Manager has kept residents updated and offered help wherever possible. 

"Lifts do experience problems from time to time, and when the initial fault was detected as part of a planned inspection, a lift engineer attended the site the following day. However, the repair process was complex with several parts required.”