ELDERLY residents living in sheltered housing have said that lessons must be learnt from an on-going heating failure.

Around 55 properties were left without heating and hot water, at Eachill Gardens, in Rishton, intermittently for around six weeks.

The complex, which consists of flats and bungalows for people aged 65 and over, were last without heating and hot water from May 3 to May 13 because of an underground leak.

A meeting was held with residents, Hyndburn Homes, and Coun Harry Grayson to try to resolve the matter.

Residents have criticised the housing association for not fixing the problem sooner after suffering intermittent failures since March.

The current heating system is being replaced, providing individual heating for each bungalow, and a replacement boiler for the main building A resident, who did not want to be named, said: “The heating and hot water has been failing for weeks now.

“There are a lot of very elderly residents in their nineties, and those who are disabled, who have been struggling as the weather has been very bad.

“We have been given two oil heaters each to use, but they have not been sufficient to heat the whole bungalow.

“We are happy that it is being resolved, but would like any future problems to be addressed quicker.”

Coun Grayson said: “I was called to try and help residents at Eachill Gardens after the issue with the heating had been going on for a number of weeks.There are a lot of vulnerable residents who live there and the concern was for their wellbeing.

“Hyndburn Homes have worked hard to resolve the problem and have been giving daily updates.”

Jill Scott, business manager at Hyndburn Homes, apologised for the inconvenience caused and said goodwill payments would be offered.

She said: “The current system has failed intermittently and we have dispatched our engineers to rectify the faults.

“We believe the problems to be caused by a water leak underground.

“This is a complex issue and we are working to permanently resolve it.

“In the meantime, we are hopeful that a temporary solution has been found and the heating is currently working. Work is also progressing on the installation of new heating systems for each bungalow and, subsequently, for the main building.”