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Sante Zanello |
‘Double standards’ over Macintosh House closure
Pensioner refusing to leave sheltered accommodation hits out after visiting ex-neighbours
COUNCIL claims that an elderly people’s home in Marylebone was closed because it did not meet standards have been blasted by a pensioner following a tour of Westminster’s sheltered housing this week.
Sante Zanello, 67, heard stories of bed-bug and mice infestations and “serious shortcomings” from friends exiled from Macintosh House to Penn House in Lisson Grove and Glarus Court in Marylebone.
He has written to the local government omb-udsman and Westminster’s lead housing councillor Angela Harvey to protest.
Mr Zanello refuses to leave Macintosh House in Beaumont Street after officials shut down the building in March claiming refurbishment would cost £1.5 million and be too expensive.
Cllr Harvey has said it had become impossible to house potential residents in the block because conditions were sub-standard.
But Mr Zanello, who has always maintained conditions at the spacious 28-room block were better than in other sheltered accommodation in the borough, now says that most of his friends are now regretting the move.
He said: “There are serious shortcomings in Glarus Court.
“I was surprised to find in Penn House that there are no electrical extractor fans in the kitchens and bathrooms. This means the cooking smells fill the neighbouring flats, and vermin travel along the ducts between the flats. One of my friends found droppings down her sofa.
“The lift is very small and not accessible to wheelchairs.
“There are no rails along the corridors and Penn House has a very narrow staircase.
“It does not have special bathing facilities for the elderly and disabled.”
He added: “It is difficult to understand why they have taken the decision to upgrade Macintosh House when it offers those important facilities which are lacking in Penn House and the other sheltered accommodation sites in Westminster that I have visited.”
Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg has written to Peter Rogers, the council’s chief executive, asking for an explanation of the “apparent contradictions”.
The council was unavailable for comment. |
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