OAP a prisoner in her own home

Nine steps have turned a pensioner's home into a prison it has been claimed.
Pensioner Vera Bruce and daughter Norma at one of the sets of stepsPensioner Vera Bruce and daughter Norma at one of the sets of steps
Pensioner Vera Bruce and daughter Norma at one of the sets of steps

Vera Bruce (95) had an accident last August which left her dependent on a wheelchair to get out and about.

Before that she was an active OAP who enjoyed regular shopping trips into town with her daughter, was fit enough to have her hair done every Saturday and attend church every Sunday

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Her daughter asked Falkirk Council to provide a ramp outside her home at Annan Court in Hallglen. Norma Johnston and her husband even offered to pay for it – but the council has said ‘no’.

Mrs Johnston said: “We feel a ramp could be put in place on the communal path at the front of mum’s house with very little effort on the part of the council. We even said if it was a money problem we’d be happy to pay.

“Nine steps have made my mum a prisoner in her own home. She has recovered well from her accident and very active for her age, but if my husband and I are not there to carry her in her wheelchair in and out she is effectively house bound.

“The council has suggested we sell and move her to a more suitable house, but we think that’s very unfair. She has lived in Hallglen since this house was built 41 years ago.”

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Local councillor Colin Chalmers said: “The council should be prioritising providing assistance to the most vulnerable, but the roads department has been very inflexible in this matter.”

A council spokesman said: “It is not feasible to provide wheelchair access to Mrs Bruce’s property. The gradient required by building regulations cannot be achieved by altering the two flights of stairs and it is also impossible to provide a ramped access at the rear.”

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