LED Zeppelin famously sang about the Stairway to Heaven – but Plowman Tower residents would much rather take the lift.

The issue, however, is a serious one because Oxford City Council has a duty to maintain its social housing: an obligation it appears it is struggling with in this instance.

For residents of the Northway tower to be without use of both their lifts for four days is, frankly, unacceptable.

The city council should fix the lifts now, and make clear to the people of Plowman why it took them so long.