A MOTHER says she has been left “socially isolated” in a village after a council moved her there two years ago.

Natasha Sayers, 21, said her freedom had been taken away since Lewes District Council moved her to South Chailey.

The law student had to give birth in her council home because of poor transport links and she has no friends or family near the village, she said.

Ms Sayers had asked for the council’s help in 2017 when she wanted to get the heating fixed at her privately rented Peacehaven flat.

Despite its officers deeming the flat “unliveable”, the district council told Ms Sayers to stay in her property, leaving her and daughter Catalina, now two, without heating for six months.

Both her GP and MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle intervened after Catalina developed bronchiolitis three times.

The council had issued an informal letter to the landlord in November 2017 asking the repairs be undertaken within three months.

But in April the next year Ms Sayers was still at the address.

At this time a caseworker for Mr Russell-Moyle told the council she still had no central heating.

Then Ms Sayers was placed on the high-priority housing list by the council and told she would be voluntarily homeless if she did not accept the first offer.

Despite having no connections in South Chailey, Ms Sayers, who was then pregnant with her second child, was moved to a council home there two years ago.

“Since living in South Chailey I’ve had all of my freedom taken away,” she said.

“I’m unable to go to specialist appointments and I can’t access support or counselling for my ongoing stress.

“When my children are ill and the buses aren’t available we have to spend a lot of money getting to the Royal Sussex County Hospital 15 miles away.”

Because of poor transport links Ms Sayers says she was forced to give birth to overdue son Christian, now one, by herself in her home.

She says she has struggled with her mental health because of her treatment at the hands of district council officers.

The district council is now investigating Ms Sayers’s complaints after she spoke to council leader Zoe Nicholson.

“If I was in a town I would be able to live my life independently,” Ms Sayers said.

“I’m financially reliant on Universal Credit and I have to manage my money carefully.

“I cannot see my family or make any friends.

“All of these issues are having a negative impact on my mental health.

“But I love being a mother.

“I’m studying law to give them a better future.”

A district council spokesman said Ms Sayers’s complaints would be “fully investigated”.

“The council is in contact with Ms Sayers after she raised her concerns with Councillor Zoe Nicholson, leader of Lewes District Council,” he said.

“Ms Sayers’s complaint is being fully investigated by senior officers in accordance with the council’s corporate complaint’s procedure.

“The process has been explained to Ms Sayers, including her options for recourse to the Housing Ombudsman.

“It would be inappropriate and unhelpful to make any further comment at this time.”