Islington Tribune - News: Couple sleep on church floor during flat repairs

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 1 February 2008

June and Albert Braybrook: ‘The church came to our rescue’

Couple sleep on church floor during flat repairs

AN inquiry was demanded this week after a couple were forced to sleep on a church floor while their home was repaired.
Girl guide volunteer June Braybrook, 61, and her disabled husband Albert, 67, slept on two flimsy inflatable beds in the kitchen of St Mark’s Church, in Myddelton Square, Angel, for two weeks.
On Thursday – after the Tribune contacted Partners for Islington, the maintenance arm of Islington Council – the couple were offered bed-and-breakfast accommodation until the work is finished.
St Peter’s ward Labour councillor Martin Klute is calling for a thorough investigation. “No one should be forced to spend one night on a church floor, let alone two weeks,” he said. “This is not the first time there have been problems with Partners and I want to get to the bottom of it.”
The couple claim they were not offered alternative accommodation during repairs to eliminate damp at their two-bedroom flat in Myddelton Square. Chemicals used during the work made Mrs Braybrook’s asthma so bad she had to miss work.
The couple were given refuge at the church after parish priest Father Paul Bagott learned of their plight.
Ms Braybrook, who works for Angel Drug Service, said: “The church came to our rescue when all the other people were sending us from pillar to post.
“My doctor and employer asked them to re-house us. I asked for emergency housing, just while they were carrying out the chemical infusion, but no one got back to me.”
A spokesman for Partners for Islington said the couple’s letter requesting emergency accommodation arrived only last week.
He added: “We offered alternative accommodation, which was turned down. Partners will continue to work closely with Mrs Braybrook and her family to ensure they are as comfortable as possible while we undertake the improvement works to their home.”

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: