Ingestre Court residents left to shiver - City-West Homes turn off pensioners' heating

Published: 25 June 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

A GROUP of pensioners say they are “freezing to death” because of a decision to switch off their heating over the summer.

Colder than normal temperatures in May and June have forced dozens of tenants in Soho’s Ingestre Court to use expensive electric heaters and bunker themselves in their bedrooms despite paying a weekly fee for communal heating.

The heating was shut down last month by CityWest Homes, Westminster Council’s private housing contractor, and is not due to be switched on again until the end of September.

Tenants, most of whom are in their 80s and 90s, are warning it is only a matter of time before someone in the block, which is off Broadwick Street, falls seriously ill.

Violet Trayle, 86, said: “I have to wear two dressing gowns, fill a hot water bottle and use an electrical heater. One of us is going to get badly ill. This is no way to treat elderly people. I think we’re being ignored.”

Another tenant, Hilda Harvey, said: “Our bills are going to rocket up. I don’t see why we can’t have the heating on. ­Other blocks have the option, why don’t we? The walls are concrete and some of the block doesn’t get the sun at all.”

Their plight has been branded “disgraceful” by community leaders, who are calling on CityWest to take immediate action, rather than embark on a lengthy consultation. 

CityWest have admitted that other blocks they manage have year-round heating, and have agreed to consult with Ingestre tenants about extending the same service to them.

Janet Vance, chairwoman of the Soho Community Centre Trust, said: “I fail to understand that all tenants pay £15 per week for hot water and heating when this clearly is untrue. I personally think the code of practice is appalling and they should be taking more responsibility towards their tenants.”

In a letter to CityWest managers, Father David Gilmore, rector at St Anne’s Church, said: “One of my parishioners, who has been unwell for a number of months, has reported that she sits now wrapped in a duvet on days when the weather has been colder. I would ask that this matter be rectified immediately and the heating turned on again in these residences.”

A spokeswoman for CityWest Homes said: 

“Heating has traditionally been closed down in Westminster communal heating blocks during spring and summer months, unless it is a supported or sheltered block. 

“In the past there have been mixed views from residents at Ingestre Court. 

“As there was no clear outcome, we kept the heating on until the weather improved. More recently, however, some residents at Ingestre Court have contacted the local estate office about the heating, and we will be consulting other residents in the block soon to get their views.”

Ingestre Court was built in 1974 and contains 52 flats.