DISGRUNTLED shopkeepers and customers have called for the prompt repair of a lift in Huddersfield’s Byram Arcade.
They claim it has been out of order for at least eight weeks and, despite repeated calls to Kirklees Council, no permanent repairs have been done.
Glennis Harrison, owner of The Cook and Bakeware Company, said elderly and disabled people were unable to access the shops on the first and second floors of the building, which was designed by W H Crossland.
She said: “There are a lot of people very disgruntled about this situation and many elderly people are just fed up with the lift being out of order.”
“Engineers did come and fix it initially and it worked for a couple of days and then broke down again.
“Meanwhile the businesses here are still paying business rates, but we seem unable to get anything done.”
Daniel Blamires, from Calder Graphics, which is situated on the second floor, said he had watched customers walk away from the arcade when they saw the lift was out of order.
“It is a really big inconvenience for our elderly customers.
“Many visit us to buy art materials and paper for handicrafts and they just cannot use the stairs if the lift is not working.
A spokeswoman from Kirklees Council said: “We are working with our contractors to resolve the problem with this lift. We hope to get it working again as soon as possible.”
