Southport retirement flats lifts restored

Residents of retirement apartments in Southport have had their lifts restored after a two-week wait.

Peverel Retirement which owns Homeport House, confirmed the lifts were repaired on Thursday evening.

Some of the residents, including a 95-year-old woman, had been marooned in their homes in the four-storey block since 20 October.

Three other apartment blocks have also been without lifts for the period.

Managers have been helping affected residents with shopping and laundry.

The problems began when lifts failed routine tests at Homeport and three sites in Southport, Stirling Court, Homesands House and Madingley Court.

The lifts were taken out of use in the interests of residents' safety, said Peverel, and were returned to service within 48 hours at Homesands.

However a subsequent investigation at the other venues found that other parts needed to be replaced, causing the lifts to stay out of action.

Madingley had its lift put back in action on Wednesday while Stirling's was restored earlier.

"It's been terrible," said Homeport resident Barbara Martin.

"I have just about managed to get down the stairs but other people cannot, including one lady who is 95."