Edinburgh pensioner says she would 'rather live in prison' than her high rise flat
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An Edinburgh pension says she feels trapped in her 'mould and damp ridden' high rise council flat.
Lorraine Roberts, 67, has lived Fidra Court in Muirhouse for 12 years, but says she has repeatedly complained about 'fungus' growing on her skirting boards, among other issues.
The elderly council tenant suffers from a myriad of health complaints including osteoporosis, arthritis, copd, epilepsy and is in the middle of being processed for bone cancer. She spoke with Edinburgh Live as she feels at her wits end trying to get the council to fix her flat.
Due to mobility issues she also claimed she requested to be moved to the ground floor, however her requests have fallen on deaf ear, she says. Lorraine, who was in the military and worked as a coach driver, believes the council ignores her requests for help due to her age.
'Sometimes I feel I'd be better off in Saughton Prison,' she said. 'At least I would get a nice warm bed, my tele and three meals a day.
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'We are treated worse than prisoners, we have no say over anything and if we ask for help, we are ignored.
'The problem with this flat is it is covered with damp and mould. I've been flooded nine times and they never do anything.
'All of the ceiling is coming down and at one point I had fungus growing out the skirting boards. I took it to the concierge and he recoiled but I had to sort it myself.
'They changed the boilers as well and my bath hasn't been working properly since. I need to wash with a cloth out of the kitchen sink.
'I can't use my balcony as they wont replace the netting and it has been overrun by nesting pigeons. The flooring is also a disgrace, they never properly fitted it and it is all coming away.
'I was only meant to be in this flat for four months after I was flooded back in Pilton and it is the exact same as it was then. They have not touched a thing.'
Her neighbour David, who was sitting watching World War Two documentaries in her living room, agreed with her.
The two claimed whenever they have been visited by their housing officer or council contractors, the work is never properly carried out or their concerns addressed.
'My housing officer is scared to speak to me because I've went off at him so many times,' she added. 'We have no say in what goes on as tenants.
'They ignore us and hope we pop our clogs before they have to do anything. The place is falling down around us.
'I've pretty much given up trying to get help. I last contacted the council about the damp and mould at the end of 2024 and it went nowhere.
'We are treated like non-entities, we are an enigma, no one knows what to do with us but we are human beings. Although we aren't being treated like one.
'I was in the army and worked for 45 years, I have paid my way. They need to get someone out here and fix the problems.
'We can't be expected to live like this.'
Lorraine said she hates the area after it had become run down, expressing her displeasure at the perceived criminal activity taking place on her doorstep. Although she did add she has never felt unsafe or at threat, with most people keeping themselves to themselves in the Muirhouse community.
'Drug addicts and dealers live in this block, you hear the stair door going at all hours. The smell of weed is everywhere, she added"
'To be honest though, everyone keeps to themselves but it is not nice to live around.'
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Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
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I bought a trampoline for the local kids to enjoy but my spiteful neighbour made us rip it down – they lead a sad life
'There was no discussion. We want to see if we can get this overturned. The children are all upset by this' BOUNCE ON I bought a trampoline for the local kids to enjoy but my spiteful neighbour made us rip it down – they lead a sad life Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A GRANDMA claims she has to pull down her trampoline after a 'spiteful' neighbour complained to the council about kids bouncing on it. Lorraine Roberts bought a trampoline for children on her estate in Southampton, Hampshire, and erected it on council-owned common area in February. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The grandma claims she had to pull down the trampoline after a neighbour complained to the council Credit: Kennedy News 2 Lorraine bought the trampoline for the kids on her estate Credit: Kennedy News The 67-year-old believed all her neighbours were happy with the 16-foot equipment until she received a call from Southampton City Council last month [May 19]. Grandma-of-ten Lorraine says staff told her an unknown neighbour had complained about the 'noise and mess' children make while playing on it 'all day, every day'. She was reportedly then ordered to take it down from the grassy area before it is forcibly removed on 'health and safety' grounds. Shocked Lorraine admits the children can be noisy while playing but says she lives just a 'couple feet away' and orders anyone off the trampoline by 8pm. She's since described the neighbour's complaint as 'gutless' and believes the residents should've been consulted before the decision was made to ban the equipment. The grandma said the local children are 'disappointed and upset' over the trampoline's removal and she remains hopeful the decision can be overturned. Southampton City Council say play equipment such as trampolines present a 'significant health and safety risk' so are banned on council-owned shared areas. Lorraine said: "Just over a year ago, one of my neighbours put a trampoline on a shared area of grass because a lot of kids play there but it was quite flimsy. "I've got grandchildren that play on the close so I said I'd buy a bigger, sturdier one. "Everybody loved it. Kids were on it all day, every day. It keeps them off their iPads and PlayStations." 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I said no and she said if you don't take it down we will. "I was really disappointed for the children's sake. I just like the children having something to play with. "The complaint was about the noise and mess but you're still going to get that without the trampoline but now they won't have anywhere to play. "The council should've come round, had a meeting with the whole close and asked what we all thought instead of just saying 'take it down'. "There was no discussion. We want to see if we can get this overturned. The children are all upset by this." 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"While we understand the importance of outdoor play, play equipment such as trampolines present a significant health and safety risk, and cannot be safely monitored around the clock. "For this reason, we do not permit their use in these shared areas. "The residents are within walking distance of two parks which provide good access to play facilities. "We are aware that this type of play equipment can be expensive, which is why we sent letters to the community to give the owner the chance to collect the trampoline themselves.' Lorraine took to social media to voice her concerns with the neighbour's complaint and council's decision to remove the trampoline. Lorraine said: "I cannot believe that some spiteful person from our close has complained to the council that our children are making too much noise whilst playing on the trampoline." Another user said: "They lead a very sad life to complain about the children." A third added: "You're joking. Isn't it good they are laughing and playing or do they want them either stuck in bedrooms or playing with guns outside? What has this world come to?" Another said: "What a small minded person. It's lovely to hear children playing outside."
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