A WOMAN with cerebral palsy living in supported housing has been left without hot water or heating for 11 days after repairs to a broken water tank were delayed.

Helen Jones, from Stratton St Margaret, lives in accommodation provided by Sanctuary Supported Housing and is fed up with the way the issue has been dealt with.

Her troubles began when her water tank burst on Easter Sunday, which began a lengthy saga of mixed messages.

She said: “I called them and they sent someone from Bristol down to disable my water for a few days and he asked me to keep the tap in the kitchen running to empty the tank, but he hadn’t done it properly.

“The water was still running three days later, I’ve had water dripping through my light fittings, there’s a leak in my hallway, and my carpet is ruined.

“A plumber turned up on Tuesday and told me I needed a new tank, then I got a call saying one had been ordered and on its way, then I got another call saying it’s been stopped.”

Miss Jones uses a wheelchair due to her disability and lives independently in Sanctuary accomodation though requires no additional support from Sanctuary Supported Living.

She has found the whole process incredibly frustrating and took four days off work which she spent making calls and waiting on hold for someone to speak to.

She said: “They now realise it’s due to my heating system so they sent another person over on Thursday and he didn’t have a ladder to get into the loft so he left and came back that night, went up and only then did he decide to put an order for a new tank in on Friday morning.

“They should have set the ball rolling on this on Tuesday as it was clear then that I’ve needed a new tank, but they’ve taken so long to get things done.

“I’m really angry, they should have done better and I’m not getting the service I should be getting. It’s beyond a joke.”

Helen is still waiting for a replacement tank.

She said: “Sanctuary have done what they can to try and help, particularly Hayley Johnson from the Worcester branch who was really helpful, but it seems there's a lack of communication between departments and the whole process just went on and on.

“I just want the other residents on site know about this.”

Sanctuary Supported Living provides a range of supportive services which help people with learning and physical disabilities live independently in a safe and secure environment.

Staff at residential homes all over Swindon are on hand to help and support residents with care plans tailored to their individual needs.

The organisation is part of Sanctuary Group, which also provides other accommodation and care facilities..

Lynsey Squair, the operations director for maintenance and reinvestment at Sanctuary Group, said: “A new water tank was required at this property and this was delivered to us on Tuesday, April 25.

“We have agreed an appointment with the tenant to install it on Thursday, April 27.

“We have provided temporary heaters for the tenant to use while the replacement tank was on its way, but we would like to apologise for the inconvenience while waiting for it to arrive.”