A hole lot of misery for Ayr couple

Aug 1 2008 by Stuart Wilson

A DESPERATE couple threatened to quit their home after a bust-up over a hole in their ceiling.

Jean and John Watson faced a two-month wait to get the damage fixed – after pipes burst in the flat above them.

But as furious Jean pledged to walk out due to the hassle, the Ayrshire Post forced council chiefs into an embarrassing climbdown.

Jean’s misery, which kicked off in June, has been dragging on because of a shortage of labourers at the council.

She revealed: “They were working on the pipes upstairs and next thing I know, there’s a huge hole in our ceiling.

“We can now hear everything that goes on upstairs – every little word. And every time someone walks over the hole, dust comes down.

“It doesn’t help that I have bad asthma and my husband is suffering from cancer.

“We left a perfectly good home of 14 years to come here. We don’t need this.”

As Jean received a string of letters from the council promising different dates for the repair, she was stunned to learn her job WASN’T a priority.

She claimed: “They said there were only two council plasterers and I’d have to wait.

“I understand not every job can be done right away, but the latest estimate I got was August 19, which would make it more than two months after the ceiling fell in.

“There’s spiders and beetles crawling from the hole and it’s just a horrible thing to deal with.

“It’s got to the stage where me and my husband are ready to leave. We just can’t take it any more.”

And just three hours after the Post called the council for answers, they were on the scene in Peggieshill Road to sort the ceiling.

Harry Garland, Director of Social Work, Housing and Health for South Ayrshire Council said: “Following this matter being brought to my attention, I have reviewed the situation and arrangements have been made to have the necessary repairs carried out without further delay.

“We regret that the occupants have been inconvenienced by the delay and we are reviewing our procedures to learn from this unfortunate situation.

“To avoid further inconvenience to the occupants, the council has offered to provide alternative temporary accommodation until the repair work is completed.”