ONE of the UK’s biggest specialist housing providers has denied that residents at a block of retirement apartments in Trowbridge are being placed at risk.

One of the elderly residents at Raleigh Court in Polebarn Road, Trowbridge, claims residents could be at risk while a manager is away on sick leave.

It has been reported that Anchor Housing Association colleagues are covering the manager's role but only for two days a week.

But one of the residents, who does not wish to be named, says it has left the residents of the 54 apartments without regular day-to-day contact.

There are 54 one and two-bed retirement apartments at Raleigh Court, some of which are owned and some tenanted.

The local manager is employed to look after the upkeep of the buildings and gardens, as well as to provide further help and support if required.

The resident said: “I am very concerned about the situation for many flat owners. Recently the manageress there became ill and has had to leave for medical treatment.

“They said if they put contract staff in the flats they would have to increase their rents to cover the cost.

“They have put cover in two days a week, on a Wednesday and Thursday.

“If an ambulance is needed, they have a code to get into the flats, but then they would have to break doors down to get into flats because nobody is there to assist.

“Most people there are fit and able but some are very vulnerable and not having a manager/manageress there is affecting them badly.

“Recently, it took head office four days to get a company from Plymouth to fix the problem with televisions in the apartments.”

Rob McLeod, Anchor’s district manager for Raleigh Court, said: “Raleigh Court housing location continues to be managed by colleagues who visit the site on a regular basis.

“They are contactable during office hours and all residents have been given their contact details along with information on how to raise general queries, repairs, complaints and who to contact in the event of an emergency.

“Out-of-hours we have an on-call team which provides a 24/7 support service allowing them to call for help and emergency care.

“Emergency services have full access to the building in liaison with our on-call team. The safety and wellbeing of our residents is paramount.”