Pensioner should have been treated with more dignity (From Wharfedale Observer)

Pensioner should have been treated with more dignity

9:31pm Thursday 10th May 2012 in Our view

Hilda Stewart deserves a medal for putting up with an infestation of rats at her sheltered home for as long as she has.

On the other hand, West North West Homes, which manages the Leeds City Council-owned property should be awarded a bucket of fish heads.

Apart from the general situation, the most obnoxious thing is that Mrs Stewart, 85, says at one stage she was told she was lucky to have a roof over her head.

There’s no reason to disbelieve her – so on that basis the person responsible for the comment needs finding and to be dealt with.

It was last November when Mrs Stewart noticed a stench in the bedroom of her bungalow, which turned out to be coming from dead rats under the floorboard.

Action was taken and contractors paid several visits, but the problem persisted. It has to be accepted that issues like this can take time to resolve.

But what about Mrs Stewart? Her request to be temporarily rehoused was rejected and more than understandably she was scared to sleep at home and started staying with a neighbour.

At last she has been given alternative accommodation while the infestation issue is completely resolved.

West North West Homes have issued a carefully worded statement full of goodwill.

They are confident Mrs Stewart will soon be back at the home she loves and they are going to do things like a deep clean before she returns.

The very thought that a person of Mrs Stewart’s age has been left in a position of fear beggars belief and as Action for Older People say, they are disgusted the Council has taken more than five months to address the problem.