RESIDENTS of an Addingham sheltered flats complex fear they are at risk while they continue to be left without a live-in warden.

It follows an incident last week at the Bradford Council run Southfield House when entry was forced to one flat so that ambulance men could reach an elderly woman.

But this is not the first incident where a warden could have provided assistance, say two elderly occupants of the flats.

Long-time resident Norris Mallison, 85, said: "We had one incident before Christmas where a lady fell at the entrance to our main door. She fell on the flagstones and cut her face open. She was on the floor when she was found by passing carers."

In the latest incident last week, Mr Mallison heard sounds of

distress from the elderly lady before entry was forced to her flat.

But in the absence of a permanent on-site warden, who retired in November last year, residents are tended to by the Careline

communication system and visiting care workers.

Mr Mallison said: "This lady was on the floor and we could hear her wailing and moaning. It was

decided to call the ambulance and the Careline, and they were

supposed to be on their way.

"I have no axe to grind, but we are not getting a fair crack of the whip. These are supposed to be warden-controlled flats and they are putting all of these things on to the Careline."

Another resident, Kathleen Wright, 85, says that other problems have included representatives of utilities being unable to locate meters, and new residents having to be shown around by existing ones.

She said: "The only people with a master key are the Careline people and that is kept at Keighley. They are supposed to come on a morning visit and whoever comes has a master key, but at other times, it is kept at Keighley."

Both residents were keen to say how much they enjoyed living at Southfield House, apart from their worries about the lack of an

on-site warden.

Mrs Wright said: "I have liked living here all the time I have because it is a lovely place to live. The reason we are talking about these things is to show how we need a warden."

Speaking about the incident at Southfield House a spokeswoman for Bradford Council, said: "During a routine visit to residents in Southfield House, a Social Services Homecare worker found an elderly woman collapsed in her home.

"The worker called Careline for assistance but the mobile warden was out of the immediate area at the time so instead of waiting she took the correct action and

contacted the local housing office to force entry and an ambulance took the woman to the Airedale Hospital.

"At present, residents at Southfield House have 24-hour emergency access to a mobile warden because the last resident one retired recently.

"The post will be advertised this month and it is hoped a new warden will start work at the end of March."

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