Ashford's Randal Lilly, 64, lived in his allotment shed, off Cudworth Road, South Willesborough, while waiting for new flat to be built

swilliams@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 14:00, 04 June 2015

A disabled man says he has suffered nearly two years of hell due to delays in the opening of a new apartment block.

Randal Lilly, 64, has lived in a shed at his allotment, off Cudworth Road, South Willesborough, on and off since 2013 after he purchased a flat in the Panorama, in Ashford, which is currently being redeveloped.

His living arrangements have seen him sleep on a makeshift bed, use a bucket for a bathroom, have strip washes to keep clean and use a gas cylinder to cook his food on.

Randal Lilly next to the shed he has lived in on and off since 2013

He says the cold, wind and rain have left him miserable and that it was difficult moving around with his walking stick.

The former British Rail worker even contemplated suicide.

Mr Lilly, who is originally from Jamaica but moved to the UK when he was 12, said: “It was cold, wet and windy, but I hung on in there.

Mr Lilly says he is a "good person, with bad luck"

“People say I’m crazy, but also that I’m tough as old boots.

“I thought about ending it before, but I thought about my two young girls.

“They are my lifeline. I couldn’t live without my girls."

He added: “The worse part was washing. It was difficult. Also, walking with my stick.

“Sometimes the pain is so bad.”

“I thought about ending it before, but I thought about my two young girls." - Randal Lilly

Mr Lilly, who struggles with reading and writing, bought his flat in the Panorama in September 2013, using the money from the sale of his and his ex partner’s house.

He says he was told it would be six months until he could move in. However, 20 months later, he still has no idea when the apartment will be ready.

“I do feel let down,” he said. “I put all the money I had into that flat.”

He had been living at his allotment for six months when a friend offered him a room in early 2014.

However when this didn’t work out, he went back to the shed.

He then stayed in another friend’s caravan for a short period at the end of 2014, but again went back to the shed, where he has lived until this week.

Mr Lilly’s long time friend Graham Nash said he was appalled to find his friend living in the shed.

Mr Lilly is still waiting to move into the Panorama

He said: “I visited him and I was shocked. The whole thing is unbelievable.”

Mr Lilly, who moved to Ashford in the late 1960s, says he has previously been on anti-depressants, and takes sleeping pills.

In 1974, the former welder, labourer and British Rail worker, was knocked off his motorbike during a hit and run in Godinton Road, Ashford.

“I have been through so much, “ he says. “But I’ve survived. I’m a good person, with bad luck.” - Mr Lilly

His right leg was shattered and took two years to heal. His left knee is now also damaged and he has problems with his hip. He uses a walking stick to get around.

Despite all this, and his recent troubles, Mr Lilly keeps a positive attitude.

“I have been through so much, “ he says. “But I’ve survived. I’m a good person, with bad luck.”

On Monday this week, homeless charity Porchlight moved Mr Lilly from his shed to a B&B in Ashford town, after classifying him as high priority.

A spokesman said: "Mr Lilly was referred to homelessness charity Porchlight’s rough sleeper team who liaised with the council to establish that he was in priority need for emergency accommodation.

"The team continue to support Mr Lilly who will remain in temporary accommodation until his permanent residence becomes available."

Dukelease Properties, which is renovating the Panorama, said while it sympathised, the target completion date was always subject to change.

Dukelease development director David O'Neil

David O’Neil, development director, said: “The indicative construction programme and target completion dates provided were always ‘subject to change’.

“The original target completion date for the comprehensive refurbishment of Charter House has regrettably slipped due to the well-publicised construction delays and issues encountered.

“There is a contractual long-stop date of the end of June 2015 in each of our purchasers’ contracts and we are envisaging completion in line with that date.

“We are most sympathetic to individual purchasers’ difficulties, however Dukelease cannot be held responsible for personal plights that are beyond our control, and it is the responsibility of individual buyers to seek the relevant advice from their solicitors/agents.”