A disabled tenant who was forced to evacuate when a sinkhole emerged in Plumstead claims he and his family were let down by their housing association.

Sam Mervin, who recently underwent reconstructive surgery to his leg, returned home to Brickfield Cottages on Monday to find the close teaming with emergency services and a large, gaping hole outside his neighbour’s house.

Despite the police presence the 25-year-old claims his family wasn’t told it was a sinkhole until his next door neighbour warned them later that day.

The dad-of-two has criticised a lack of organisation by Hexagon Housing for his treatment in the 48 hours after the hole emerged.

He told News Shopper: “It was pouring down with rain, I was left to try and organise us getting out of the close and getting to someone’s house.”

Mr Mervin said because of his lack of mobility, his partner, their children - aged four and 9-months - and their Rottweiler Milly, were unable to stay in the emergency accommodation provided by Hexagon.

News Shopper:

The sinkhole in Brickfield Cottages, Plumstead.

Some residents boarded the coach to stay overnight in a sports hall in Woolwich, whilst others were put up in hotels.

He said: “There was no way on earth I’d be able to climb into a coach. It’s not possible, I’m in a wheelchair.”

Mr Mervin, who was injured in a motorbike accident 20 months ago, said he was forced to stay at his mum’s house in Eltham, despite the fact there was no available bed or downstairs toilet for him to use.

He claims he was never contacted by anyone from the housing association, and only found out what was going on when he phoned them at around 10.30pm on Monday night.

“I said I’m one of your disabled tenants, I’m disgusted with the way I’ve been treated,” he told News Shopper.

He claims he was never offered any help with accommodation or transport, and his family were left in the dark about what was going on.

He added: “There was literally no organisation whatsoever.

“I’m a disabled tenant. It’s 198 pound a week to live here, I get lumbered and completely, utterly forgotten about.”

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By around 3pm on Tuesday, 30 of the 40 households were told they could return home, whilst investigations continued close to the most affected properties.

But Mr Mervin said it was a huge struggle for him to return home, and criticised the lack of access for his wheelchair caused by repair vehicles blocking the entrance to Brickfield Cottages.

He said: “If there’s a medical emergency they can’t get a vehicle in or out.

“If something goes wrong, we’re stuck in here. If that house suddenly collapsed into the road, there’s no way out.”

Looking back at the experience, Mr Mervin said some families were treated well with offers of food and hotels, but he claims his family were not one of them.

A spokesman for Hexagon Housing said: "We are very sorry to hear of Mr. Mervin’s experience.

"It is unfortunate that we were unaware of Mr. Mervin’s wish to have his dog accompany him to the hotel, as we would have happily accommodated this.

"We did in fact arrange for such provision for anyone who requested this. In respect of access to the estate, this  was of course temporarily restricted for safety reasons when the council took immediate control of the site, and access was later restricted to enable the works to fill the hole to be carried out.

"This would not however have affected access for emergency vehicles or for disabled residents in need of a vehicle to transport them, so once again, we are very sorry to hear of Mr. Mervin’s experience and we offer our apologies for any distress caused."