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Pensioners and other vulnerable residents in a block of council flats have been without heating for nearly two months.

People living at Sythwood, accommodation in Woking, Surrey, say they’ve been “cold as an iceberg” amid the big freeze the UK has experienced.

Michelle Chinnery, OBE, 47, has had to sleep with a coat on after the heating stopped working on Saturday, December 3, and failed to turn on again.

She said: “I have osteoarthritis, and I fell over twice due to the cold.

“My legs seized up and the emergency services had to be called. Now I sleep with hot water bottles on my legs to stop them from seizing up in the cold weather.

“I heard our situation with the heating isn’t treated as an emergency because we aren’t supported housing, even though many of us are either elderly or living with disabilities.”

Anthony Trimm, 89, told Surrey Live he had a fall as a result of feeling so cold.

The pensioner said: “I fell over in the bathroom near the shower, it was as cold as an iceberg in there.

“I suddenly felt dizzy, my son had to come round to help me up. My family are disgusted and are trying to get me out of here and into different housing.”

The heating was broken throughout the Christmas period and was only fixed last week. During this time, ambulances were called out due to chest infections, ill health and falls linked to the freezing temperatures in the flats.

The mercury plummeted to -7C overnight in mid-January in Surrey. Only two boilers support the complex of three blocks, including 24 flats, claim residents.

Michelle, registered housebound due to health conditions and blindness in one eye, spent £80 of her own benefit money she “didn’t have” to buy a more reliable oil heater to warm her flat, after the one the council provided malfunctioned.

The woman claimed her carers didn’t even want to stay with her in the flat after checkups because they were too cold, and she said it was “unfair” on them

Woking Borough Council has apologised to the residents, and is offering compensation for the full period residents have been without heating and hot water.

But one dad had to move his son out of his flat because he was worried about his teenager’s health and studies. Aaron Swindon said it “isn’t fair” for his 15-year-old boy to live in such cold conditions.

Mr Swindon spent “double” the amount on his electricity bills and has been wrapping up warm. He said: “I can’t even have a hot bath to warm up as I have no hot water. I just take cold showers. Going to work breaks up the day.”

Louise Strongitharm, Woking Borough Council’s Strategic Director for Communities, said: “I’m pleased to report that the communal heating and hot water system at Sythwood is now working and operating at normal temperatures. We will continue to work with our contractor, Mountjoy, to monitor the situation on a daily basis for the next couple of weeks.

“Again, we would like to apologise to the residents of Sythwood for the length of time it has taken to fix these issues. We know the situation has been far from ideal for all affected residents and we thank them for their patience and cooperation.

“To compensate for the additional utility costs to run electric fans and for the overall disruption, we are offering compensation for the full period residents have been without heating and hot water.

“If residents experience any further problems, in or out of hours, they should call 0300 373 0373 or email [email protected] and an officer will respond as soon as possible.”

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