Lambeth resident suffers broken ankle as 30-year wait for new lifts goes on

There has not been an operational lift in the 16-flat block since the old lifts were decommissioned over 30 years ago, after a major fault occurred on one of the lifts. 

Responding in January to a Council Question from Liberal Democrat Councillor Ben Curtis, who represents the Oaklands Estate, Labour Councillor Maria Kay said that, when the fault occurred in the 1990s, a “view was taken that these [lifts] would be replaced at some point in the future”. 

More than three decades later, Selby House still does not have a lift to help residents and visitors who are less able to climb 45 steps to the fourth floor. 

While residents were waiting for Lambeth Council to fulfil their promise, Amino Mahdi (pictured, centre) slipped on the stairwell and broke her ankle in two places, an accident which would have been avoided if the project had run to schedule. 

Another resident of Selby House, has severe arthritis and says that getting up and down stairs is “really difficult”. She also has a granddaughter who uses a wheelchair, meaning she is unable to visit the flat. Residents with young children are forced to leave pushchairs at the bottom of the stairwell. 

In May 2023, Liberal Democrat Cllr Curtis was informed that the Selby House lift refurbishment had been included as part of the council’s Capital Works for 2023-24. He was told work would begin in October 2023 and take approximately 15 weeks to complete.  

However, last week Cllr Curtis was told that there had been a delay and the project to replace the lifts had still not been allocated to a contractor. It is now expected that works will not commence until at least January 2024. 

Commenting, Sue Woody, a resident of Selby House, said: 

“I’ve lived here for 35 years and now I’m nearly 70-years-old. I struggle with walking up and down the steps. The flat opposite me has a young baby and two ladies in the block have really bad knees.

“The council has prioritised putting new lifts in the block across the road, but their lifts were working anyway. I think it’s absolutely terrible, and now they’re keeping us hanging on even longer.” 

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Cllr Ben Curtis, said: 

“After 30 years, the council say they’ve taken note of residents’ need for a new lift in Selby House, but the project has seen delay after delay. It is totally inexcusable and residents are losing hope that they will ever see the new lift installed. 

“Selby House residents have waited far too long for a basic necessity, and every delay is another week of difficulty for them. The council must prioritise this project, allocate it to a contractor without further delay, and ensure that the lifts are replaced as promised so that residents can enjoy the accessibility that they deserve.”