A MAN claims he was left a “prisoner” in his own home by an emergency road shutdown.
Paul Harris, 39, who lives in a flat on Water Street in Rhyl, said his life had been dramatically limited when Denbighshire Council imposed a road closure along the seafront after the Honeyclub building was damaged by high winds last week.
Mr Harris, who has a number of health issues and relies heavily on his car, said he was unable to drive into town to buy food or socialise.
He said: “I have chronic asthma and a bad heart. It takes me a long time to walk, and I can’t walk far. The street has been blocked off and I’m disabled. I can’t go out in my car to do my own shopping."
Mr Harris said he feared the situation would continue until the building was demolished, leaving him stranded in his flat.
He said: “I was told we’ve got more high winds to come. It’s dangerous. Rubble will be flying around. I was told it’s closed until the Honeyclub is knocked down. It has been water damaged and wind damaged, making it start to fall down.”
As of Monday, Mr Harris said nothing had changed, and as his wife was also disabled, the couple had no one to turn to for food deliveries.
He said: “I’m a prisoner in my own home. I feel trapped. If I want to do a bit of shopping, I can’t. I park outside my property. I rang the council and they told me to park on the see front but it takes me long enough to get down the stairs. That’s not a solution for me.”
On Tuesday morning, workers arrived at the scene with a cherrypicker to secure loose slates and boards.
A Denbighshire spokeswoman said the road would remain closed until the area was made safe and emphasised that public safety was a priority.