EXCLUSIVE: Chesterfield grandma left with broken coal fire since January still hasn't had a fix
Chesterfield Borough Council say it's more complex than originally thought.
Last updated 31st Jul 2023
A Chesterfield grandmother is still facing issues over a broken coal fire at her council house.
83-year-old Shirley Ashton lives in a property owned by Chesterfield Borough Council. She has lived there for 55 years. In January, her coal fire broke and it has not been repaired since.
When first contacted in April, the Council said they were aiming to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Shirley had been given electric heaters but with the cost-of-living crisis, could only afford to use them for one hour a day.
She has since been given two fan heaters - which Shirley says she will not use, due to the cost of running them:
"The woman from the council said, use your immersion heater, and I thought, would you like to pay for me using the immersion heater?"
Shirley said it has been a tough time: "It's just been a farce, it really has. I feel really let down by them. It's been my home for all that length of time. I'm very disappointed with them.
"I never ask them much. I just think it's a bit unfair that they've left me like this. I just think they've treated me unfairly."
She's been reflecting on last winter, and doesn't want this year to be the same: "You could see your breath when I went in the kitchen...
"I'd stay in here and keep the doors closed. Luckily though, I've got the electric shower and my dishwasher, so I were all right there.
"I don't sleep very well because I think when am I going to get some heat in, don't forget those old folk."
Catherine Richardson, Shirley’s granddaughter, said it has been a tough time for the whole family:
"It's been difficult for us, especially seeing her struggling because she hasn't got any heating...
She's already gone through one winter. We don't know what to do because if you contact them they say one thing, and then something else."
A spokesperson for Chesterfield Borough Council said:
“We have been continuing to work to resolve the issue as soon as possible and have been continuing to look at the most appropriate options to replace the coal fire.
“Our team have been speaking with the tenant’s family to keep them updated.
“Making sure that our tenants are safe, well and warm in their homes is a top priority for us as a landlord. On this occasion, the initial repair request was more complex than originally thought and as a result this has unfortunately caused some delays to works being completed. We are working on this issue being resolved in the near future.”