Residents who have not been able to go outdoors for two weeks from their assisted living block due to a broken lift are at the end of their tether.

The problem at John Watson House means that people living on the first floor cannot go downstairs - and it will not be fixed for another week.

The accommodation in Royal Wootton Bassett is operated by GreenSquareAccord and has been previously reported as having damp flats with crumbling ceilings.

Resident, Ann Cuss, 76, used to see friends at a day centre three times a week and gave a damning assessment of the situation. 

She said: “This building is a load of... I've got to swear. I don't care. A load of f***ing crap.

“They don't care about the old people.”

Ann says the extra delays mean she will miss important doctors appointments.

Sisters Violet, 95, and Christine, 84, both live in John Watson House, but only Violet lives on the first floor.

Christine took the stairs to visit her sister who she is very close to, but slipped on the stairs cutting her leg - if the lift was working she would not have taken the stairs.

She said: “I couldn't hear anybody talking so I thought I'll sit here and rest a minute. 

“Then I went down and my blood was all coming out.”

Violet said: “I do get a bit low sometimes not being able to see anyone; if there’s something a bit weepy on telly that’ll make me worse.”

At least four people in the block are unable to go downstairs and outside.

Although residents do not blame the accommodation manager for the delays in getting the lift fixed, they do think that they have not communicated well enough.

Residents say they have been told two dates that the lift will be fixed, which have both come and gone.

This latest issue comes against a backdrop of a long series of complaints by residents against GreenSquareAccord which they say has made this problem more serious.

The accommodation has gradually transitioned from sheltered housing, to supported housing, to now assisted living.

Residents say the changes mean that a social work group which used to organise activities for them has stopped coming.

The changes have happened despite residents' needs not changing, they claim. 

According to residents, the withdrawn social service has made the mental health problems caused by the broken lift worse due to isolation.

Ann has only spoken with her carers and cleaner for two weeks.

A GreenSquareAccord spokesperson said: “We received a report the lift at John Watson House had stopped working on Wednesday 6 March and arranged for an engineer to visit the property the same day. 

“A technician attended on Friday 8 March and identified the lift’s motor requires a replacement. 

“We placed an order for the motor with our lift services contractor who has assured us the part should arrive by the end of this week. 

“Our contractor will be on site no later than Wednesday  27 March to fit the motor and bring the lift back into service.

“Our Community Housing Officer responsible for John Watson House has been in regular contact with our customers while the lift is out of service and will continue to visit the property and reach out to our customers to offer support.”

The manager of John Watson House could not be contacted for comment.

At the time of publishing, residents had not been informed of the new planned repair date.