THE husband of a disabled pensioner has urged a council to rethink plans to transfer stairlift costs to users.

Disabled residents could be left with a £500-a-year maintenance bill for their lift if Durham County Council pushes ahead with the costcutting exercise.

Householders who obtain a stairlift from the authority are currently given a one, two or five-year warranty.

When this expires, the council pays for any maintenance and repairs.

However, the authority has announced plans to offer all users a five-year warranty – after which they would be responsible for their own equipment.

Mike Cunningham, 71, was furious to receive a questionnaire from the council about the proposed changes.

His wife, Jacqueline, 68, is disabled and needs her lift to get down the stairs at their home in The Moorlands, Gilesgate, Durham City.

He said: “What really cheeses me off is that these stairlifts are provided as part of the disability grant scheme, so they already know we are on a fixed income.

“We’re a soft target and they have much more meat to play with before targeting the likes of us and the many other people like us in the county.”

The changes have also been criticised by charities for the disabled including Scope, which urged the authority to consider the impact of the move.

The council is reviewing its policy on providing and maintaining stairlifts, and vertical, step and platform lifts, as part of efforts to save £123.5m over the next five years.

Denise Elliott, Durham County Council’s strategic commissioning manager for adults, wellbeing and health, said: “At present, the majority of these aids only have a one-year warranty. Under our proposals this will be extended to a full five years but, after that, responsibility for upkeep will pass to the resident.

“At a time when the council has to make significant financial savings, this move would actually ease the cost incurred by the council of maintaining disability aids long-term.”

A consultation on the proposed changes will run until December 2.