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A pensioner is worried he could end up trapped in his own flat after a housing association decided it won't replace a broken stairlift.

Terry Shell, who lives in Tai Tarian's Hafan Deg complex in Seven Sisters , Neath Port Talbot , said the stairlift broke at Christmas time and he immediately phoned the housing association to report it.

The pensioner claimed that, at first, he was told they couldn't find the parts to fix the stairlift so they wouldn't be repairing it.

However, later on, he was told they would be taking the stairlift out because the staircase was too narrow.

Tai Tarian said the existing stairlift would make an escape in an emergency from the flats above ground floor very difficult.

It said it was working with Mr Shell on arranging visits to several suitable alternative properties.

(Image: Jonathan Myers) (Image: Jonathan Myers)

Mr Shell, who used to work as an engineer, said: "They are saying they are going to take them out of all the flats.

"I have offered to replace the one that is there now and pay for it myself but they said no.

"I said, what if I get someone to repair it and they also said no.

"They said they had done an inspection to come have a look at it and that the staircase is too narrow.

"It is just an excuse."

The 82-year-old said in the past year he had developed arthritis and found it increasingly hard to go up and down the stairs, adding that he was short of breath every time he attempted it.

Mr Shell said that, at the moment, he was still able to go out every day. However, he worries he will be stuck in his flat if his mobility gets worse.

(Image: Jonathan Myers)

"I can manage at the moment but it is getting harder all the time for me," he said. "When I have shopping, I have to get someone to help me.

"I used to use the stairlift every day - it was very useful to have."

When he moved into the flat 10 years ago, the stairlift was one of the things he really liked about it, added Mr Shell, a dad-of-two and grandfather-of-four.

The pensioner said he had been offered other properties outside Seven Sisters by Tai Tarian, including in Rhiwfawr, which is about 10 miles away. However, Mr Shell said he didn't want to leave the village as that was where all his friends and family were.

"I was born here and I do not want to leave - I feel they are trying to force me out of my flat," he continued. "This is where I want to stay."

(Image: Jonathan Myers) (Image: Jonathan Myers)

John Weston, who has lived in the flats for 20 years, described the stairlift as "vital" for the residents.

The 83-year-old said he was quite fit but that he still thought the stairlift was very useful to have.

Andrew Carey, deputy director of assets at Tai Tarian, said: “In light of the Grenfell Tower fire, our senior management team made a conscious decision to review the fire escape routes in all blocks of flats owned by the organisation in order to ensure that individuals would be able to evacuate safely in the event of an emergency.

" As part of this review we identified that the staircase at Hafan Deg in Seven Sisters is very narrow and the existing stairlift impedes access, making an escape in an emergency from the flats above ground floor very difficult.

"We appreciate that this is distressing for Mr Shell and have been working closely with him arranging visits to several suitable properties where he can live safely and closer to his family.

"We will continue to do this so we can find him a new home as quickly as possible.”