Council sorry for disabled girl's home revamp delay

A council has apologised to a family that had to wait nearly two years for the major house alterations that were needed for their severely disabled daughter.

Carol Anne and Nick - who also have their own health problems - spoke to BBC Radio Manchester, prompting an immediate response from Tameside Council, which had first promised to do the work at their Stalybridge home in August 2024.

"I honestly feel like we're going to get such a new lease of life," said Carol Anne. "I think it's going to benefit all of us - I'm just so excited."

A Tameside Council spokesperson said: "We fully accept there has been a delay in undertaking the adaptations and apologise for this and the impact on family life."

They added: "Works for the family are being prioritised and will be carried out as a matter of urgency."

Carol Anne has severe arthritis while Nick has also been seriously ill.

They care for their six-year-old daughter Francesca and five-year-old son.

Francesca, who is autistic, also has a severe and complex condition that means she cannot feed herself and is doubly incontinent.

"We're both pretty much running on empty," explained Carol Anne.

"My partner's had two strokes. He doesn't even remember the children's date of birth or anything.

"I've had a total hip replacement and I'm awaiting [to get] both my knees done and I've got other different conditions on my feet as well.

"A lot of the physical stuff - like carrying Francesca up and down the stairs or getting a wheelchair up and down the stairs to the property - Nick has to do."

She added: "Most of the time it's very much autopilot. But you feel like we're surviving sometimes, instead of living.

"There's times where, especially in the middle of the night, you can do something like use the bathroom and then you realise there's no toilet roll - it's downstairs - and then you'll find yourself crying over it, when you're not really crying about that.

"You're just exhausted. You're crying over the slightest thing sometimes. And when so many people say 'We don't know how you do it', we don't have a choice."

A council surveyor has now visited the family.

"I actually started crying as soon as I put the phone down when the council told me they were gong to start work," said Carol Anne.

"I was just ringing everybody. I was hysterical - I couldn't stop crying."

Francesca will have a "safe space" room and an internal window so Carol Anne can keep an eye on her

She will also have a downstairs wet room and a new front door with ramp access.

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