A shower of tiles trouble
Bathrooms re- done in 82 new homes
Workmen have ripped up 82 botched bathrooms at South Ayrshire Council’s biggest new housing estate.
Faulty tiles had to be replaced with wet wall boards last week at the £ 9 million Lochside development. It is only one year since the landmark scheme in Ayr was finished.
The contractor removed the trouble tiles in the showers free of charge after the job was condemned.
A shoddy installation left water seeping in behind the tiles, causing them to become loose.
Contractor Cruden Building and Renewal built the 102 homes, which were described as “exceptional” during the council’s PR launch last year.
But the recent problem in most of the homes’showers definitely put a dampener on the housing project.
One source said: “I am shocked that the work was not up to standard. The houses are amazing but this has taken the shine of things.”
Ayr North Community Council member Wallace Kerr said: “Someone must be brought to task for this fiasco.”
David Burns, the council’s head of housing and facilities, said: “We’re currently replacing tiling in the shower areas of a number of properties in the Lochside development with wet wall boards.
“The fault was identified as part of the snagging process and is being carried out free of charge by the original contractor.
“We wrote out to tenants in June to arrange a suitable time to visit their homes and expect the work to be completed by the end of the week ( last week).”
The properties were built on the site of the old greyhound track and demolished maisonettes.
The cost of building the homes was £ 116,052 each subsidised by £ 30,000 per unit by the Scottish Government.
When the project was completed in July last year Scottish housing minister Kevin Stewart described the estate as “an excellent example of partnership working to deliver much needed affordable homes in the area.”
A street in the estate has been named in honour of Whitletts Victoria Football Club.
The club moved to Dam Park when the greyhound stadium became unusable - so the council named one of the streets Victoria Crescent to recognise the history.
I’m shocked the work was not up to standard