Residents ‘disgusted’ with NNC decision to remove stairlifts from shared areas leaving them 'housebound'

Concerns have been raised that residents living in council-owned housing with communal stairlifts will be forced to move out or risk becoming ‘prisoners in their own home’, as the mobility aids are being ripped out from accommodation blocks.

North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) said it had made the decision to remove stairlifts in communal stairwells after it undertook a review of health and safety and fire compliance requirements in its buildings.

Residents in Saxon Close, Desborough, have complained about the lack of consultation carried out with people using the mobility aids every day, and the worry and anxiety their scheduled removal is causing those dependent on them.

Steve Crooks’ 94-year-old mother, Joyce Harper, lives in an upstairs flat in Saxon Close. He shared his fears with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that, without the stairlift, she would be completely housebound ‘from now on for the rest of her life’.

Steve said: “She enjoys going out – she comes down in the summer and there’s a little bench outside where she likes to sit with the neighbour and have a chat. All those things she used to do, she won’t be able to do anymore.

“She’s been over here 11 years and she’s been using that chair since then. Is the council telling me that they have let my mum use that chair for 11 years and it has always been unsafe?

“I will offer to pay for the repairs to maintain that chair for the rest of the days my mum has got, but they won’t let you – they just want them out.“

Just a few flats down, 87-year-old Roy Vincent is also questioning how he will get around if the stairlift is removed by NNC.

He said: “Suddenly, we were told we were going to lose our stairlift.

“I thought how the hell am I going to get up and down stairs if they’re going to take it away from us? You get used to a thing like that after living somewhere for 20 years.

“It’s absolute rubbish. At the end of the day, this is all about money.”

North Northants Council said it would help provide assistance with Keyways applications to residents who are concerned about not being able to access the upper floors. However, residents and family members said they had already looked online at what is currently available and there is nothing within six miles of Desborough.

Wendy Page, 79, who lives on the same floor as Roy and also uses the communal stairlift, added: “If they take that away where do me and Roy end up? It’s already them saying we’ll help you with your Keyways, but that can be months away.

“My kids were born here and I don’t want to move – why should I?”

Another resident, Martina Payne, 75, said: “We have got to wait for somebody to die or somebody to go to hospital and not come back to move into a ground-floor flat here. It’s horrible.

“It’s supposed to be classed as independent living, but by doing this they’re taking the independence away.”

Town councillor Andy Coleman has taken the fight to the unitary council’s legal department on behalf of his residents, stating the removal of the stairlifts is a ‘fundamental failure’ and will have a ‘devastating and discriminatory impact on the disabled residents’.

In an objection letter addressed to the Chief Executive, he wrote: “​The stairlifts are a necessity for mobility-impaired tenants to access their residences. Their removal does not constitute a minor inconvenience but a complete denial of access, effectively rendering residents prisoners in their own homes.

“The cost and resource implications of ensuring continued safe access must be balanced against the severe, life-altering impact of the removal.”

He has requested the immediate suspension of the removal decision, as well as oversight of an Equality Impact Assessment taken on the stairlift removal, any recent Occupational Therapist assessments or reports detailing the necessity of the lifts for the residents, and detailed costings proving that maintenance or replacement is ‘an unreasonable burden’.

One of the carers at Saxon Close also explained her concerns with the planned removal and its impact on disabled and elderly residents who rely on the lifts to get around:

She said: “It’s the socialising that’s the biggest thing for them, and that is going to stop.

“Why should they have to stay in a flat on their own? Why take that away from them? I’m disgusted with them.”

A spokesperson from North Northamptonshire Council said: “We understand that this change may cause concern, and we want to reassure residents that their safety and wellbeing remain our top priority. Stairlifts in communal stairwells of some of our sheltered housing schemes were originally installed by legacy councils.

“Following a thorough review of health and safety, fire compliance, accessibility, and regulatory requirements, we have made the decision to remove these stairlifts and not reinstate them. Instead, we are working with residents to explore safer and more suitable alternatives.

“The review highlighted several safety concerns, including the risk of obstructing evacuation routes, non-compliance with modern fire safety standards, and issues raised by regulators and insurers. These stairlifts were never intended for shared use, they were designed for individual users following a personal assessment that considers mobility, ability to manage controls, weight, and height.

“Shared use increases safety risks and the likelihood of harm. In line with this, communal stairlifts are excluded in North Northamptonshire Council’s Aids and Adaptations Policy, which focuses on working with residents to explore personal adaptations within the home or alternative solutions where required.

“All residents affected have been advised and provided with information on the support available. Sheltered housing is designed for tenants who can live independently; it is not supported living.

“However, we are committed to helping those impacted. If any resident has concerns about accessing upper floors, we encourage them to speak with their Sheltered Services Officer or scheme manager so that we can offer tailored support, including Occupational Health referrals and assistance with Keyways applications.

“Our priority is to keep residents safe while ensuring they continue to receive the support they need to maintain independence.”

NNC has stated that a total of eight residents will be impacted across three of its sheltered housing schemes. They say managers will meet with each resident to agree additional support and address any questions or concerns.

“To date, only stairlifts that were broken or unsafe have been removed – three in total. The remaining stairlifts will be removed as part of a phased programme, following completion of individual support plans for the affected residents,” the spokesperson added.