OAP’s agonising wait for a window

David Welsh: worry over long delay

A PARTIALLY sighted pensioner whose window was smashed in a nearby car crash, has finally seen the damage repaired — more than a month later.

A car ploughed into David Welsh’s garden wall in Oldham Road, Royton, sending bricks flying through the window of his ground-floor flat in Plumpton Close. Mr Welsh (83) had just got home with neighbour Thomas Wild (68)..

Former lorry driver Mr Welsh said: “I’ve never been so scared. I didn’t sleep well the first night.

“The second night was not too bad, but still I’m scared of something coming in.”

Two days later he was told by Guinness Partnership Housing Association the window would be repaired on April 21, and boarded up the window.

Workmen came on that date and started measuring the window - even though measurements had been taken when it had been boarded up four weeks before.

Mr Wild, a retired bus driver, said he and the other neighbours were disappointed on Mr Welsh’s behalf.

“It’s not fair on him, because he’s frightened to death,” said Mr WIld. “He broke down. I felt sorry for him. The company doesn’t seem too bothered.”

Guinness Partnership has now fitted the made-to-measure window.

“We do appreciate Mr Welsh’s concern that the process has taken longer than expected and apologise for the inconvenience,” said a spokesman.