No heat or hot water for three weeks in sheltered housing
DOZENS of elderly people have been left without central heating for weeks after the system packed up at their sheltered housing in Gwynedd.
The 33 residents of Llys yr Eifl in Caernarfon have had to wear hats and coats indoors and drink hot drinks to keep warm, since they lost the use of their radiators on Saturday, March 4.
Many are also living without hot water due to the failure of the heating system, as they fear the immersion heating system proposed as an alternative will cost too much.
Landlords Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG) said the problem was “complex” and they had contractors PLANS have been resubmitted for a luxury hotel on the banks of the Menai Strait.
The controversial scheme in Caernarfon was first proposed in 2010 and got planning permission at appeal after strong opposition.
But the hotel was never built at Tŷ Glan Menai on Aberforeshore working to identify a possible leak from underground pipes.
It appears that the system for all the flats runs from one communal boiler and the water pressure has been affected by the leak.
Joyce Walley, 78, who lives at Llys yr Eifl, said: “I’ve got no hot water or central heating. It’s almost three weeks now.
“I’ve got a small electric heater. I’m lucky that I’m able to go out to places and can keep warm but, when you get up from bed to go to the toilet, you realise that you are shivering.
“All the flats are affected. I don’t have a clue what’s wrong. It’s diabolical.”
Resident Stan Craig, 83, said: “It’s been very cold the last three weeks. I and the planning permission lapsed.
Now developer Mick McKenna has instructed KDP Architects to re-submit the scheme for a 12-bedroom hotel with a swimming pool and dining facilities.
The site was the first clubhouse of Caernarfon Golf Club but was think it’s bloody terrible.
“We have had no hot water and the radiators have not been working. If you go in the back there, you can feel how cold it really is.”
Mr Craig, a great-grandfather and Christmas Island veteran who suffers from dementia, said: “They have been working on it. They can’t seem to find out what’s the cause.
“People shouldn’t have to be like this in this day and age. There’s nothing we can do. We’ve got to grin and bear it.
“We have had a meeting and I am supposed to be getting money back.”
In a letter to tenants, CCG said: “We are truly sorry for the inconvenience this is causing you.
“I would like to ensure you that we sold when a new one was built. Mr McKenna wants to demolish the current building to make way for the “high-quality” hotel.
It is not known why the original scheme was not developed, but the plans were opposed by Gwynedd council and Caernarfon Civic Society over visual impact concerns. are doing all that we can to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
“Despite efforts to improve the situation last week, the work to repair the system was not successful.
“As a result, we need contractors to dig outside the property to establish the exact amount of damage to the pipes beneath the ground.
“As soon as we are aware of exactly how much work is required, we will have a better idea when your heating system will be working again.”
CCG said that, in the meantime, they are supplying electric heaters and will reimburse any additional costs and offer compensation once the situation is resolved.
They said hot water is available through the immersion heating system and that, if people are unsure how to use it, they will provide instuctions or send an officer to help.
A CCG spokesperson told the Daily Post: “The heating system at Llys yr Eifl is currently out of order due to a number of system failures.
“We have two specialist contractors working with us to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
“The comfort and the welfare of our tenants is our immediate priority and we are keeping them informed on daily progress, supplying electrical heaters and ensuring they have hot water, and reimbursing any additional electricity costs incurred.”