Friends of an 89-year-old Wallington woman fear she may not survive the winter after spending almost four weeks without central heating, with possibly another four to come.

Mary Row, of Stafford Road, had her gas supply turned off on October 2 after a leak was detected, leaving her bereft of central heating, hot water and the use of her cooker.

She said: "It's been nearly four weeks now and to me that's wrong. When you're old, you need direct heat."

But her friend Ron Preedy, who lives in Sandy Lane South, Wallington and has known Mrs Row for 25 years, went further, saying: "If we have a cold spell, she'll be dead. I've been into that flat and it's normally freezing.

"It's incredible that no one's done anything. She won't survive if it goes on much longer."

While typically leaks can be resolved by a visit from a gas engineer, Mrs Row's is not located in any appliances, but in the fabric of the building, necessitating the intervention of gas suppliers Transco.

But according to the company, it will need to relocate the meter a process which will involve digging up road, for which the company needs to give Sutton Council 28 days notice.

Notice was given yesterday.

A company spokesman said: "We understand this is an elderly lady. Hopefully the council will understand the situation and shorten the notice period."

Another complicating factor has been the fact that Mrs Row, as a tenant, has not been dealing with either the gas engineers or Transco direct this has been done by her flat's managing agents.

The Transco spokesman added: "This has complicated the situation, by adding a third party."

In the meantime, Mrs Row, who has lived in the flat for almost 60 years, will have to make do with an electric heater, microwave and kettle, for her everyday needs.

She said: "They say all they need to do is relocate the meter - it sounds quite simple to me. I don't understand it."

October 26, 2001 12:30