A FAMILY who were flooded out of their flat but reunited are being forced to separate again due to health concerns for their four-year-old daughter with Down’s Syndrome.

Mike Blackman, 32, said he is moving back out so his daughter, Scarlett-Rose, who has been unable to sleep, can get rest with her mother, Stacey Horne, 31, in the one bed room of their temporary accommodation in Littlehampton.

The family were flooded out of their flat on Friday, August 27, after a neighbour left their bath running, which caused water to seep into their home in Berrymill Close, Bognor.

They refused emergency accommodation because they needed a ground floor flat for their daughter, who cannot walk.

The Argus: Mike (left), Scarlett-Rose (centre), Stacey (right).Mike (left), Scarlett-Rose (centre), Stacey (right).

Mr Blackman said that while they appreciate being back together, the shared house they are living in is affecting Scarlett-Rose’s health, with his daughter being unable to sleep.

He is moving to a relative’s house so his daughter can sleep on the one bed in the temporary room they have been given.

He said: “It’ll be me that moves. The bed isn’t suitable for her but it may at least mean she sleeps, as at present we’re concerned she is starting to show the signs of being run down which then causes her to be sick.”

The Argus: Scarlett-Rose requires a specialised bed.Scarlett-Rose requires a specialised bed.

He has also found it frustrating with the delays to refurbish the flat.

The council told The Argus the flat “remains habitable” but they will continue to do work to repair two of the ceilings and follow up decorative work.

The Argus can reveal that the list of the repairs being done to the flat are extensive, with the ceilings containing asbestos in the two bedrooms and hallway being removed and replaced, which also involves removing and refitting electrics.

Other work includes replastering some of walls, clean carpets being fitted, new latex flooring and new floor tiles also being fitted.

Francis Oppler, Liberal Democrat MP for Bognor Regis East has been supporting the family during this time.

He said: “There is a colossal amount of work that needs to be done on this property to make it habitable again.

“Remove the artex ceilings in the hallway, bedroom number one and bedroom number two, electrics will have to be removed.

“Remove loft insulation, remove floor tiles in the hallway, replace loft insulation and it goes on and it goes on.

“So why this wasn’t picked up on the first occasion is a matter of grave concern for me, particularly as their daughter is very young and she has Downs Syndrome, so she has additional health needs.”

The council said the works should take three weeks and that the property is still "habitable".

An Arun District Council spokeswoman said: “Whilst the property remains habitable, to minimise the inconvenience, the family have expressed a preference to move whilst remedial work is undertaken to two of the ceilings and the follow up decorative work.

“We anticipate all works being completed within three weeks and we remain in regular contact with the family.”