A REDDITCH pensioner can look forward to a warmer winter – thanks to the Redditch Standard.
Maureen McKnight had been left without a gas fire for an incredible 15 months after council contractors condemned her’s not once, but twice – both times failing to fit a replacement.
During this time the 73 year-old has endured nearly two winters relying just on the background heat from her radiators even as temperatures plummeted well below zero.
She and her friend Roger Curtis say they have made countless complaints at the town hall without getting anywhere.
But then the fed up Batchley resident got in touch with the Redditch Standard, and in less than 24 hours the borough council had been in touch offering to fit a brand new electric fire in her Foxlydiate Crescent home.
“A chap came out back in November 2015 to do the gas checks and condemned the fire and disconnected it,” said Roger, aged 74.
“They said they were fitting electric fires now, so Maureen waited for the new one to come, but nothing happened.”
Despite making enquiries Roger says they were continually fobbed off, to the extent that when the 2016 council gas check came round the fire was still in position and was condemned again.
“We would go down to see them but they kept fobbing us off,” said Maureen.
And it was after another such episode that they decided to get in touch with the Redditch Standard.
“We’d been down the town hall, and I’d lost my temper, I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t have, but it’s been such a long time,” said Roger.
After hearing their story, we got in touch with the council and within 24 hours they’d called Maureen and offered to come round and fit a new electric fire.
Roger said: “We couldn’t believe it – Maureen is really chuffed, and so am I – thank you Redditch Standard,” said Roger.
A spokesperson for the borough council said: “Mrs McKnight’s fire was de-commissioned previously by our former contractors in 2015 and was identified for an electric fire during an inspection from ourselves in October 2016.
“This month we have engaged a new contractor and we have already installed seven fires and have appointments to fit another 23 in the coming weeks – including Mrs McKnight’s whose initial survey and fire choice opportunity, which is today (Thursday).
“We apologise for the delay but if Mrs McKnight felt her heating was inadequate, had she contacted us we would have put in place a temporary measure.”
