Pensioner feels ‘trapped’ in ‘hell’ because of nosy workmen and smelly bins

A pensioner has said she feels ‘trapped’ in her home because of nosy workmen peering into her house.

Carole Frith, 74, said she has been living through ‘hell’ as workers look into her garden, leave a loud generator running all day, and delivery vans arrive before the crack of dawn.

She claims there are so many flies due to bins nearby that she was unable to shut her window, and also said diesel fumes pass through her house every day.

Carole has complained to Waltham Forest Council in north London numerous times since work began in July.

The council is currently using a piece of land next door to where Carole lives to store materials for planned works to improve council tenants’ kitchens and bathrooms.

Workers have been using the site near Arkley Road to store tools and equipment, and Carole claims brickies are ‘laughing at her’ after she complained.

She has said she feels the only action left worth taking is to take her issue to the ombudsmen.

The council said residents who live nearby were told that the work would begin in July, and letters and emails were sent to those in the area.

The work is expected to last at least 12 months.

But Carole said that’s not good enough, and not enough notice. She said: ‘We can’t use the garden with the generator running. It’s so noisy.

‘We have lorries continually delivering stuff, the workman vans coming in at 7am, it’s hell.

‘During the summer, we had the windows open because it was so hot and the noise would constantly wake us up.’

She added: ‘I’ve been fighting like mad but it feels like the people [the workers] are laughing at me.

‘I went up there last Wednesday as I was so sick of the smell and the noise and told them, they turned around and said to me ‘I’m making a fuss out of nothing’.

‘They don’t understand how it’s impacting my life. No matter where I am in my house, it feels like I am trapped because I constantly see them.

‘My husband only has our garden and pond to be able to go outside and enjoy due to his knee replacement.

‘He’s basically housebound because of this generator.

‘I’m 75, he’s 76 and they’re taking another year out of the years we have left.’

A Waltham Forest Council spokesperson said: ‘An area of council-owned land on Arkley Road is being used for 12 months to store materials for planned works to improve council tenants’ kitchens and bathrooms across the borough, as part of the decent homes programme.

‘Letters were sent to local residents on 8 and 25 July to inform them of this work, and notices were posted in communal areas as well.’

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