A DISABLED grandmother says she has been trapped inside her Barking home for two weeks due to road works. Marguerite Saunders, 60, who has lived on the Thames View Estate for 50 years, feels daunted by the prospect of venturing outside. Builders have be

A DISABLED grandmother says she has been trapped inside her Barking home for two weeks due to road works.

Marguerite Saunders, 60, who has lived on the Thames View Estate for 50 years, feels daunted by the prospect of venturing outside.

Builders have been digging up Bastable Avenue for weeks as part of the East London Transit (ELT) bus route, and Marguerite says she cannot leave her house in her wheelchair or get to her car.

She wanted to attend council leader, Liam Smith's, question time on Saturday July 11 at Barking Learning Centre, but feared it would be impossible.

Marguerite said: "I had a few questions I wanted to ask the leader about these road works."

She claims residents were not consulted about the bus stop extensions and that her needs as a disabled person were not taken into account.

Marguerite, who suffers from a brittle bone disorder which is causing her spine to crumble, says she wants to maintain what mobility and independence she has left.

"It is impossible for me to get anywhere," said furious Marguerite.

"The council have ridden rough shod over the people who live in this road.

"What do we need 400ft bus stops for?

"There is not even enough room in the road now for buses to pass each other, it's ridiculous."

At first Marguerite called the council run fortnightly paper The News to see if they would cover the story.

"I called that council newspaper thinking they would help me with my situation," Marguerite told the POST.

"But they seemed very disinterested and just told me to let them know how I got on.

"That's when I realised they didn't want a negative story, they only wanted to hear from people who love Barking and Dagenham council."

Disappointed Marguerite then called the POST for help with the nightmare road works that have been plaguing her and her neighbours.

A council spokesman said: "

"The council contacted Transport for London (TfL) who visited Ms Saunders last Friday to discuss and resolve access issues.

"Unfortunately during any construction works, a number of parking spaces are temporarily unavailable. However, we are working closely with TfL to ensure there will be approximately the same level of parking provision in Bastable Avenue when these works are completed.