'We all fear we'll be left to die'

A change in the management set-up for Flax Mean has seen the services of an on-site manager replaced by one based four miles away.

The round-the-clock presence and reassurance provided by the previous manager is now reduced to a quick knock on the door of the 37 Arun District Council-run flats and bungalows from Mondays to Fridays.

One of the residents, Michael Nolan (68), said: 'A few weeks ago, a man became ill and called for help. By the time the manager arrived, he was being taken away in an ambulance. We have got no cover at all now. All we can do is use our pull cord to the contact centre and hope help gets here in time.

'I've had a heart attack, kidney failure and a brain haemorrhage since I've lived in Flax Mean. On each occasion, the manager was with me in seconds. If that happens now, I have just got to hope and pray that somebody will come in time.'

Mr Nolan said he had been urged by the other residents of the Wick Lane development to speak out about the situation. 'Everybody is scared stiff. Two of the residents are in their 90s. Quite a few are approaching their 90s. The youngest person is about 63. Nobody knows exactly what is going on. All we have been told by the council is that they are restructuring,' he complained.

The only notification the Flax Mean residents have received about the reduced level of cover came in a letter from Arun District Council a couple of months ago. It simply stated a restructuring of the service was being carried out. But the on-site manager was removed without warning. Residents contacted her by using a pull cord in their homes.

They were told to continue using the cord. However, it is now connected to a call centre. Operators there raise the alarm and inform the emergency services where necessary and alert the duty manager. That individual has to make a special journey from Barnham.

An Arun District Council spokeswoman said: 'The sheltered housing scheme manager role is that of a '˜good neighbour', providing some help and support to residents. Residents still receive regular visits as they did when the resident scheme manager provided the service, but the managers are based in Barnham or Bognor Regis.

'In an emergency, tenants can use the community alarm which is located in their home and the call will initially be dealt with by Chichester District Council's Careline, as it has always been.'