Man who hasn't left home for three years in 'bloody nightmare' only wants to do one thing

Steve Niblock, from New Ferry, Merseyside, said he is enduring a "bloody nightmare" as he has been unable to leave his home for three years and would just like to do one thing when he gets out

A man has told of a "bloody nightmare" not being able to leave his home in three years and he just wants to "go to the chippy and buy a fish."

Steve Niblock, who has lived in a Magenta Living home in New Ferry, Merseyside, for 12 years is severely disabled and struggles to walk. He said that he needs a ramp to be put in so he could get a mobility scooter into his back garden.

"All I do is watch telly. I have no social life apart from talking to people on the phone. That is it. It's a bloody nightmare I tell you," he said. He claims Magenta has now agreed to put a ramp in at his house but told him work had been delayed due to wet weather.

But he says that he is still waiting to hear back from Wirral Council about whether it will put a dropped kerb outside his house and any estimate for how much this may cost. Mr Niblock said he has paid £75 for a vehicle crossing estimate and survey, but claims he is yet to get a quote for how much it would cost from the local authority. He said he was told a dropped kerb would be put in near but not directly outside his house, something he believes is impractical and pointless.

"There is no resolution as of yet. I still want to go to the chippy and buy a fish," he told the Liverpool Echo. "Why can't they put it outside my house if they can put two a couple of metres away? Why are they wasting the money?"

Though he had made progress on the issue, Mr Niblock said he was frustrated trying to get an update from Wirral Council and Magenta, adding: "It's a chicken and egg situation. You try to phone people and they do not return your calls." He also worries other disabled people in similar situations don't know their rights when it comes to requesting for reasonable adjustments.

Mr Niblock, who is a former social worker and councillor, said: "Some disabled people haven't got the fight. Because I have got the knowledge, I know how the system works but when it comes down to it, the Equality Act is very clear. Reasonable it says. A small ramp for someone who can't exactly walk is, as far as I am concerned, reasonable."

A Magenta spokesperson said: "We visited Mr Niblock to assess and agree the adaptation works required to his home. From this we provided a written follow up letter to ensure Mr Niblock was happy with the approach, which was sent on 1st October.

"Initially we advised Mr Niblock that we would arrange this work once the Council had completed the changes to the pavement curb; however, at Mr Niblock's request and to ensure the works are completed as soon as possible we have booked the work in. Unfortunately, due to the recent wet weather, we have not been able to start the external concrete works. We have been in regular contact with Mr Niblock to explain this and keep him updated."

The Mirror has contacted Wirral Council for comment.