The lift in Godwin Court in Somers Town was out of order for more than a week

• YOUR story about the broken lift is very tragic but Camden Council only offers an apology – not a word that it will not happen again, (Broken lift prevents woman from getting to husband’s funeral, February 13).

I live on the 14th floor of a 19-floor tower block. Breakdown of the lift is routine and complaining to the leader of the council has not helped.

There are two lifts. One was out of order for a month recently. During that period the second lift had a mind of its own due to lack of preventive maintenance.

When both lifts are out of order one can imagine the ordeal of the tenants. I suffer from hypertension but could not go out to collect my medicine.

If anyone gets a heart attack during this time, there is no chance of survival. The council is lucky that it has not happened but their luck may run out if dereliction of duties prevails.

When a lift is out of order there is a contract that it will be repaired within four hours; but that never happens.

In my opinion it is high time that proper preventive maintenance is undertaken so that tenants do not have to suffer and elderly pensioners and tenants with children do not have to fear if the lift does not work.

When one lift was out of order for a month tenants were not informed when it would be repaired. Tenants were also not compensated for the ordeal imposed owing to lack of proper maintenance.

I hope your story will be an eye-opener for the council to carry out preventive maintenance so that in the circum­stance of breakdown of the lift, repair can be done without inordinate delay.

SUNIL KUMAR PAL
Mary Green, NW8