AN INVESTIGATION could be launched after a man was caught on camera taking down a petition calling for better lift maintenance in a block of flats.
Residents in Gatwick House, Bransholme, are furious after the petition, which had more than 60 signatures, was taken from the building's community notice board on July 17.
But after searching through CCTV footage, Gatwick House committee members say they have identified the man, who is believed to be a lift engineer.
Now, they are urging Hull City Council to investigate the matter and will also approach Humberside Police.
The petition was formed after months of problems with the building's two lifts.
Elderly people were getting stuck in the elevator on a daily basis, while disabled residents on the top floor were scared of leaving the building in case they had to climb the flat's 16 flights of stairs on their return home.
Mark Gibson, chairman of Gatwick House Committee, said: "We were all left shocked when we came back one day to see the petition had been taken from the notice board.
"At first we wondered who would do such a thing because just about everyone in the block of flats is fed up with the service we are receiving for the lifts.
"We have been experiencing big problems since before February. We thought 'enough is enough' and we put the petition together.
"We have sat down with the flats' caretaker and we have the person taking the petition on camera. We are taking this to the council and police to see what can be done."
Gatwick House consists of 90 flats and more than 200 people.
About 20 are thought to be disabled and a far greater number are elderly.
Elsie Allman, 84, said: "At one point both lifts were out of action for almost two days. How are we supposed to live properly? We just want them to work properly.
"It gets tougher the older you get and there are many elderly people who live in the block. There have been many days when I have decided I won't go out because of the inconsistency with the lifts. I can't be climbing stairs at my age."
Fellow resident Joe Wilkinson, 80, said: "We have been unhappy about the quality of repairs to the lifts we have received for a while. All we are asking for is a decent, working lift. In a block of flats as tall as Gatwick House, you need a lift that works."
