A BUSINESSMAN says he feels ‘like a prisoner’ in his own home after a seven-month wait for a wheelchair ramp left him housebound and facing bankruptcy.

Simon Pearson has been trapped without access to washing and toilet facilities at his Milton Road home, after a knee condition left him unable to stand or walk.

Social services recommended several improvements including a new ramp and access to toilet and cleaning facilities last summer, but no work has been carried out.

Last week he was finally allowed to apply for essential funding but he now fears more months of bureaucratic delays will prevent him from returning to his normal working life.

He said: “I just feel like I’ve been left to rot. I’ve been a prisoner in my own home.

“In January I fell through the glass in my front door when I was trying to get out of the house. My right hand is going to be permanently damaged as a result.

“The only thing I want to do is work and the only thing I need to do that is a ramp.”

Mr Pearson, who was born with a form of cerebral palsy, set up educational training provider, Puzzle Box Potential, after being made redundant several years ago.

The business has been acknowledged by recruiters and the national press for its work in empowering lives.

But now he says the business is in difficulty because he cannot leave his home.

He added: “I’m having to put my business on hold as I can’t get out to customers. I can’t get out to teach.

“At the age of nearly 43 I’m having to look at going on income support for the first time. I really don’t want to go on benefits, I want to work.”

This week, the Government announced an extra £700,000 worth of funding for North Somerset Council to provide financial support to help disabled people live in their own home.

Mr Pearson says he has considered using credit cards to complete the necessary work himself.

If he were to do so he has been warned he would be liable for potentially expensive maintenance costs.

He said: “I’m aware there are people in North Somerset who are worse off than me but I can’t understand the sense in the legal process that’s stopping me being out there teaching.

“I’m the type of person who never gives up but what frustrates me at the moment is there are so many people I could be trying to help.”

The Mercury contacted North Somerset Council but it was unable to comment by the time we went to press.