Disabled woman feared she would be trapped at home for a month

2023-03-08 15:56:45 By : Ms. Coco Li

A woman with mobility difficulties feared she may be largely trapped at home for another month.

But Jayne Kustra who lives in Penhill is celebrating the fact that Swindon Borough Council workers will come out to fix her fence to enable her to get about much sooner, after she contacted the Adver.

Jayne lives in Newton Way and suffers from osteoarthritis, spinal problems and fibromyalgia, all of which affect her ability to walk for anything other than short distances – and she uses a mobility scooter to get about.

The layout of her garden means she has to turn left from her gate into a narrow alleyway for a few yards before getting to the street.

And therein lies the problem.

Jayne said: “The council came round in early February and put in a new fence and gate. It’s a really nice job.

“But the angle of the gate means it’s almost impossible to get the scooter back in through it, because there’s a post in the way.”

Jayne said that the first time she went out with the scooter after the gate had been installed she was stuck until a neighbour came to help.

She said: “I got off, and she lifted the back up in the air to get it turned in. But it’s very heavy, and I can’t do it.”

Jayne said an inspector from the borough council came out a few days after the new fence was put I, and agreed to have a wider gate was installed – but then she heard nothing for nearly a month. She added: “I kept trying to get hold of the inspector but couldn’t and then I got a letter telling me  the council would come out on April 4 to fix the gate.”

Jayne was pleased to hear it, but concerned that it would leave her almost isolated at home for a total of two months.

She said: “I can walk short distances, but not very far at all. This would mean it was two months I couldn’t use my scooter and basically that would keep me in for nearly all of that time.”

After contacting the Adver, and a call being put in to Swindon Borough Council, some good news came Jayne’s way.

She said: “They told me they had a cancellation and they’ll be coming out this coming Friday.

“Thanks very much for your help.”

Councillor Kevin Parry, the borough council's cabinet member for highways maintenance, said: “When the work was undertaken, the gate and mobility scooter were both measured and agreed with the tenant.

“While she was happy with the size at the time, it has now become apparent that the gate needs to be widened so she can adequately turn into her garden.

“This work has been booked in for as soon as possible and we will continue to work with the resident.”

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