A RETIREMENT housing resident in Street says her shared garden is in "heartbreaking" condition after sustaining a life-changing injury.

70-year-old Lynda Lunt is the youngest person with access to the shared garden, used by the residents living in numbers 2-9 of The Whithys. 

She told the County Gazette that the garden has uneven and unstable paving slabs, slopes and "steps everywhere", making it "just not practical for anybody, really – especially elderly and disabled people".

Around a year ago, she tripped over in the garden and sustained a long-term injury to her knee. 

She now suffers from complex regional pain syndrome, a condition usually triggered by an injury that causes persistent and severe pain. 

Housing firm Aster, which runs the properties, says it is working to improve the site and that safety is an 'absolute priority'.

But Lynda says she is still in contact with doctors about the injury which forced her to switch to an automatic car and start using a scooter and walking aid. 

She said: "I was in the garden, and I tripped over on the paving slabs that were sticking up out of the ground. I landed on my knee."

She said that another resident sustained a broken ankle by falling over in the garden.

Lynda has lived in her bungalow for 12 years since her husband died, but she now finds it difficult to use her garden - even to hang out her washing to dry.  

Somerset County Gazette: MAINTENANCE: Aster say they have worked at The Whithys to "initially secure and then make safe the areas affected"MAINTENANCE: Aster say they have worked at The Whithys to "initially secure and then make safe the areas affected"

"I have to go down the steps and a slight slope to where the washing line is, and I have got nothing to hold onto," she said. 

The residents used to enjoy using the garden to drink tea and coffee and chat, but Lynda said: "We haven’t been able to do that because it is just not safe.

"They (Aster) have acted recently in the last three weeks because I have kept on.  

"I pay rent and I haven’t got use of the garden now.

"I keep a lovely home.

"I’m very proud of my bungalow, and it’s heartbreaking when you can’t go out into the garden.

"We have been fighting this for around twelve months."

Lynda's son, who works for Airbus and lives in Lyme Regis, visited the property to take photographs and videos of the garden. 

This video he recorded seems to show that a handrail outside her bungalow has not been installed securely. 

On Wednesday, September 22, a maintenance team worked on the property to make the garden safe, but Lynda said the measures are "temporary" and have seen a section of the garden sealed off. 

A spokesperson for Aster said: "The safety of our customers is our absolute priority, and we’ve been working at The Whithys to initially secure and then make safe the areas affected.

"Our maintenance team visited on September 22 to repair the pathways and to fit additional rails to the safety barrier outside one of the homes.

"We’re now looking into how we can make further improvements to the garden and communal areas, and we’ll consult with our customers to develop these plans.

"In the meantime, our Independent Living team will continue to carry out weekly safety checks and support our customers throughout."

Somerset County Gazette: "JUST NOT SAFE": Lynda tripped over in the garden and injured her knee"JUST NOT SAFE": Lynda tripped over in the garden and injured her knee

Somerset County Gazette: SAFETY CHECKS: Aster say they will carry out weekly safety checks at the siteSAFETY CHECKS: Aster say they will carry out weekly safety checks at the site

Somerset County Gazette: A YEAR: Lynda says she and her neighbours have been "fighting this" for around 12 monthsA YEAR: Lynda says she and her neighbours have been "fighting this" for around 12 months