Anger as old folk left shivering

2010 Rotherham were also under fire from pensioners at sheltered accommodation at Ravenfield, who have been forced to buytheir own heaters after their communal heating system went on the blink.

Harry (72) and Muriel Cupitt (73), of Orchard Place, Masbrough, were finally able to thaw out after a freezing fortnight when engineers from the housing firm visited them for the sixth time last Sunday evening.

Their son, who asked not to be named, said: “Every time the engineers attended, it would work for ten minutes or a couple of hours and then stop again.

“This was one of the coldest spells we have had so far this winter and it’s disgusting that it should take so long for it to be fixed.”

The couple were given a small convector heater by 2010 but their son added: “My parents pay for their gas central heating bill as part of their rent, through a community housing scheme.

“This doesn’t cover the electric, and so my mother was too frightened of the cost to use the electric heater too much.

“Luckily, they have a gas cooker, and could put two rings on for a bit of warmth some of the time.”

A spokeswoman for 2010 Rotherham apologised for the inconvenience but said that sediment in the pipework, which had now been flushed out, was to blame.

“While some properties experienced no further problems, a few continued to lose heating intermittently,” she added.

“2010 Rotherham will monitor the situation and instal new filters.”

Elderly folk at the Smeaton Close sheltered housing complex in Ravenfield have resorted to electric heaters as their communal heating broke down.

A relative of one resident said: “Extensive work was carried out in the summer but the heating has still broken several times over Christmas.

“Now they are paying for their own energy on top of the £12 a week that the council takes from them.”

The 2010 Rotherham spokeswoman said: “On three occasions during December, we received reports from residents affected by the district heating system.

“Two broken pumps and an electrical fault were identified and quickly repaired. Heaters were provided to customers requesting them.

“The system is currently working and a further 30 convectors were delivered to residents on Monday.”

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