Dawn's dying wish

Dawn Clarke, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in October, said she had been told she could adapt the home herself, but added the council would get the benefit of the changes for future tenants after she died.

Ms Clarke (58), of Wharton Avenue, Swallownest, said she needed to convert a downstairs toilet into a shower room at her council home but added the council wouldn’t pay the estimated cost of £8,000.

She said getting upstairs was becoming ever more difficult because of her condition which attacks nerves in the brain and spinal cord and stops messages getting to muscles.

Ms Clarke said she had been offered accommodation elsewhere but she was not well enough to move house.

She said: “It’s unfair that I have to move out.

“I am terminally ill and what will happen when I die and my partner has to move out? The council will get something for nothing.

“I don’t want to move. I have enough coping with my illness than all the stress of moving.

“I have lived here for 14 years and I think if I am going to die then I should die where I want to die, not where the council wants to put me.”

She said that Rotherham Borough Council had also refused her permission to have a stairlift fitted because of safety fears, but said she could fund the shower room herself.

The authority had offered accommodation in adapted bungalows elsewhere in properties it felt were more suitable.

Sandra Tolley, the council’s housing options manager, said: “I am sorry to hear of Ms Clarke’s diagnosis and we understand that it must be very difficult in her current home.   

“Ms Clarke is awarded high priority status under the council’s allocation policy awards and the council has been in discussion with her about her housing circumstances and the possible options to assist her.

“We can confirm that as the council has a substantial amount of ground floor adapted properties suitable for Ms Clarke’s needs, our policy clearly states that we cannot fund major adaptations costing over £8,000 in under-occupied council houses if suitable alternative accommodation is available.

“If Ms Clarke wishes to proceed with the adaptations she is able to apply for permission for a tenant alteration to her council home.

“In light of Ms Clarke’s concerns, the housing occupational therapy manager will arrange to make contact to discuss the matter further.”

Since the Advertiser started making enquiries, Ms Clarke said she has received an apology from the council and it had offered to fit a stairlift.

She said she had also been advised to contact the charity Motor Neurone Disease Association to see if there was any way it could fund the alterations for a shower room.