“There’s only one and a half slices of salami left in the fridge.”

For several weeks, Jean and his wife Suzanna, residents of the small town of Herent (Flemish Brabant), have been in a difficult situation. It all started when De Watergroep, the Flemish water supply company, started work to install new pipes in their street, the Rijweg.

Wanting to kill two birds with one stone, the local authorities then decided to also resurface the road. “The work went well,” Suzanna told HLN. Indeed, the couple were worried about their mobility, as Jean was paralyzed in a wheelchair after a cardiovascular accident. “The workers had carefully laid down plates so that Jean could get out easily.”

“I can’t eat soup”

However, things got complicated three weeks ago, when the work was finished. The downward slope in front of their home had not been respected. “We managed to go down but on the way back up, Jean’s chair fell over. I tore three muscles in my arm getting up. I still can’t eat soup.”

News that really complicates the couple’s life, Jean can no longer be left alone. As a result, the septuagenarians no longer dare leave their home and have been confined for several weeks. “A neighbor provided us with food but she has trouble keeping up with our pace,” laments Suzanna. “Plus, she’s going on vacation for several weeks. There’s only one and a half slices of salami left in the fridge.”

“A temporary solution”

The couple contacted the municipal services to find a solution to the problem. “We are obviously not going to leave these people in this situation,” reacts the alderman for works, Maarten Forceville (CD&V). “We made a lot of efforts to help them during the works. The concrete ramp served as a temporary solution while waiting for the permanent reconstruction of the sidewalk. We will see with the contractor what is possible to find a quick solution.”