Patricia Toole, a resident of Prenton in Merseyside for the past 53 years, has expressed her disappointment with her housing association, Onward, for their slow response to a leak in her shed. The leak has resulted in significant damage to her gardening tools and has prevented her from engaging in her favorite pastime. Despite multiple attempts to contact Onward since December, the problem remains unresolved as of late April.
Patricia, who suffers from arthritis, a pacemaker, and a blocked heart valve, has been forced to manually remove rainwater from the shed using heavy buckets. Her granddaughter, Samantha Skillen, has been assisting her and has expressed concern about Patricia’s health and well-being. They believe that gardening provides both physical and mental benefits for Patricia and are frustrated by the lack of progress from Onward.
Despite being offered a £50 goodwill gesture, Patricia and her granddaughter remain dissatisfied with the response. They believe that a simple repair could have been completed within minutes and that Onward should prioritize the needs of their tenants, especially those with health issues.
Patricia has been an avid gardener since childhood and finds joy in growing her own produce. The leak has not only damaged her tools but has also deprived her of her source of leisure and mobility. She emphasizes that she has never been in arrears with her rent and expects timely attention to maintenance issues.
A spokesperson for Onward has acknowledged the delays and has stated that they are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. However, Patricia and her granddaughter remain skeptical and hope for a prompt and satisfactory resolution to the issue.
