Noise complaints halt lift plan

A pilot program that would assist the mobility of elderly and disabled people has been stopped after noise complaints from residents.

On Saturday, construction stopped suddenly on two elevators in a residential complex for retired workers of China National Aero Technology Import Export Corporation.

It has left two gaping holes in the six-story complex in Huizhongbeili, Chaoyang district.

Wang Xiao, who belongs to the Huizhongbeili residents' committee, said they asked the construction company to change the time that it worked, not stop building altogether.

"We have not received any complaints about the construction of the elevators, but a few residents said the noise of the construction bothered them," Wang said.

"We asked the construction company to adjust the working time."

An official from Beijing disabled person's federation surnamed Wang said the government planned to build accessible facilities for elderly residents living in other buildings of under six floors. The Huizhongbeili elevators are a trial of the program, she said.

"This plan was raised in early September this year, and we want to build elevators in other residential buildings so as to help elderly people and disabled citizens," he said.

The construction company said work was suspended because of a problem with the electricity but it would start again soon. It refused to provide more details.

Du Xirong, a 75-year-old resident, said: "We are looking forward to using the elevators because it is difficult for elderly residents like my wife and me to access our apartment."

Du said that there were two disabled people living nearby, but that it was a "luxury" for them to go outside for exercise and fresh air because they had such trouble moving around the building.

According to Du, there are 24 families living in the two buildings that would be serviced by the elevators, and about 50 percent of these people are retired workers and almost 30 percent above 65.

"Our neighbors are also an elderly couple, and they are above 65. Climbing from the first floor to the sixth floor is not an easy job," said Du's wife surnamed Zhang.

The director, surnamed Zhang, of the housing reform office of China National Aero Technology Import Export Corporation said only three families disagreed with the construction plan.

The elevators were very safe, and would use transparent materials so as to not block the sunlight, Zhang said.

Du said residents in the complex had paid a total of about 120,000 yuan towards the cost of the elevators.

The majority of the money was paid by China National Aero Technology Import Export Corporation, he said.

(China Daily 11/17/2009 page25)