A Kingston mum claims she was told by Kingston council she must wait until “autumn” for a decision on whether she can have a stairlift installed.

Kelly Jones, 35, of Mount Pleasant Road, is a full-time carer for her son Vinnie, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy type one.

Ms Jones said she applied for a grant from the council in October of last year to install a stairlift in her home and was told by the council she must wait for a decision in autumn.

Ms Jones said carrying her son’s 100kg power chair and medical equipment up and down the stairs of their first floor maisonette in Kingston has been giving her back problems.

She said: “He is now 2 stone and nearly a meter long. I am doing this at least twice a day, sometimes more.

“Not only is this dangerous it is also a massive strain on my back and I am starting treatment as I have been experiencing massive problems with my hip and my body is all out of line.

“Due the the size of Vinnie I cannot see my footing and this poses a fall risk to myself but even more so to Vinnie. “

Ms Jones said that Vinnie’s life limiting condition keeps him from playing outdoors in winter to avoid colds which could be fatal to him.

She said: “This to our family is a complete violation of Vinnie’s human rights as the inefficacy and lack lustre approach to Vinnie’s needs means that they are prohibiting his indepence and his freedom to be a child”.

Ms Jones said she approached her MP Zac Goldsmith in April but has yet to hear from him or his staff.

A Kingston council spokesperson said: "We have been working closely with the family to improve access within their home and a number of improvements have already taken place. The request for the installation of a lift has been approved and we are working to ensure that these works can take place as soon as possible."