![Reading Festival has laid out its Look Out For The Planet pledge ahead of its return next week, bringing measures set to promote sustainability. Picture: Luke Dyson [LukeDyson.com]](https://wokingham.today/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Img1871502-360x180.jpg)
A blind man and his wife from Bracknell have been forced to go to their daughter’s home to wash due to ongoing issues with their shower that have lasted for over a year.
Steve Broad, 69, is blind and disabled and lives in a ground-floor flat in Hanover Gardens, which are retirement properties managed by the Anchor specialist housing provider.
He has complained about issues with the shower in the flat that first broke more than a year ago and remains not properly fixed.
Mr Broad said: “The fly in the buttermilk is that I haven’t had a working shower since June 25 last year.
“I’m pretty sure this violates our human rights. This has been going on for over a year, I’m wondering what else to do.
“A staff member on the phone said I could use a wet towel for a strip wash while they sort it out!
“I just want the shower fixed, I’ve been very polite.
“They’ve come out over 10 times, they’ve fitted four new pumps and none of it has worked.
“My wife has had to make an official complaint, she’s very upset about it.
“They don’t care about us – she wanted to cry and cry about it – it’s upset my wife.
“It’s disgusting, we’re old-age pensioners, and we’re being treated like second-class citizens.
“This has really got to me. It’s very frustrating.
“My daughter lives two miles away from town, so we have to do a four-mile round trip, just so we can use her shower, which is costing both of us money.
“I want some compensation and everything back to normal.”
As well as the complaint they’ve made, the couple have contacted Peter Swallow, the Labour MP for Bracknell, for his assistance.
A spokesperson for Hanover Gardens said: “We’re sorry for any distress this matter has caused. The wellbeing of our residents is very important to us.
“The parts needed to repair the shower have already been ordered and the work is scheduled to be completed next week.
“We’ll continue to keep our residents updated on progress and have arranged for hotel accommodation while the work is carried out.”
In a follow-up call, Mr Broad confirmed that Anchor staff had told them that work will begin next week (Monday, August 24) and that he and his wife have been booked into the Travelodge Bracknell Central Hotel for two nights.
