Street work stops disabled man from getting out

Jim Cassells claims that he has been unable to use his electric scooter for the past eight weeks because of the unfinished work along his street in Banbridge.

The 85-year-old, who relies on his scooter to get about, said that he has been unable to get out of his home because of the condition of the road.

“If I get out,” said Mr Cassells, “I go up and down the surface like a yo-yo as and I am afraid of falling off my scooter.

“It is like going up and down on a roller coaster.”

Ironically Jim worked with the Roads Committee of the Antrim County Council many years ago over seeing repairs.

“I know when contractors say that it will take them two to three weeks to do a job you need to be flexible,” he said.

“They can be held up or something might happen to delay them.

“We were told that it would take two to three weeks so even if it took them four weeks you could tolerate that.

“You can adjust your life and wait for the work to be completed.

“However, this is now two months later and no sign of the work ever being completed.

“It is an absolute disgrace. I simply cannot get out.”

As well as his disability Jim also suffers from epilepsy and heart failure.

“I try and get out of my scooter but it is near impossible to get out now at all,” he said.

“I would have liked to get to the local shops like Supervalue on my scooter but simply cannot.

“There was simply no way. I could not get over the estate in my scooter. I would fall over.

“It just seems contractors an unusually long time to get the work completedtake for whatever reason.

“Some times the contractors will come in for half a day and disappear.

“Everyone in here is absolutely disgusted.

“How long will this work take?”

There was some good news for Jim when the Leader contacted DRD about his complaints.

A Department for Regional Development spokesperson said, “Work to the footway will be finished by Monday, May 19 and work to the carriageway will be completed by Wednesday, May 21.”