Edinburgh pensioner says she would 'rather live in prison' than her high rise flat
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.
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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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