A CHEPSTOW man left wheelchair-bound after having his lower leg amputated says he has had to resort to crawling to get around his home because adaptations have not been carried out.

Leslie Bennett, of Lady Mary Court, Bulwark, underwent the operation in Marchand received chemotherapy to treat bone cancer. The 34-year-old says he requires ramps, handrails, a wet room and a stairlift to be able to get around and leave his house.

He said the work was requested from Charter Housing more than a month ago. But nothing has yet been done. And he says he has had no option but to drag himself around using his knuckles. I’ve injured my hands so much they’re covered in cuts and blisters.

“I can’t get through the front door unless someone helps. I can’t take it anymore, I’m trapped in my own home.”

Mr Bennett said that the daily struggle had been made harder with weekly trips to the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.

He added: “With the chemotherapy I’m getting so weak, I just can’t deal with it.”

According to Mr Bennett he had been told by a member of the housing association’s adaptations department that a stair lift would be installed within a fortnight.

When he tried to contact the representative after two weeks, he was told that the person had gone on holiday for three weeks – and that there was “no-one else he could speak to.”

Mr Bennett had moved to the area from Risca four years ago, along with his partner John Cox, 33.

In February, Mr Cox suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage which left him with a weakness in his right side and the need to use a wheelchair.

“We were told by occupational therapists explaining the need for John to have adaptations in his own right but they still haven’t done anything,” said Mr Bennett.

“I started to think ‘oh we’ll just move’ but our support worker told us not to and that they’ll keep fighting to get what we need.

“But we’ve been fighting for weeks and weeks and it’s just unbelievable. I feel like Charter are digging their heels.”

Charter Housing confirmed that an application for a physical adaptation grant (PAG) was received by the couple’s occupational therapist on June 20.

The application is made to the Welsh Government to undertake a large number of adaptations to their property following “significant changes” to the needs of both tenants.

A spokeswoman for the housing association said: “We absolutely understand the frustration of Mr Bennett and Mr Cox, and agree there is a need to expedite the works as a matter of urgency.

“There are around 100 PAG applications that will be completed this financial year by Charter Housing and due to the size and scope of the works, the grant and tendering of works process can take a couple of weeks.

“We have spoken to the tenants today day to reassure them they are being treated as a priority and have arranged for a surveyor to visit their home on Tuesday July 18 to undertake a full assessment.”