East Kilbride News

Family living in the dark

Water came pouring through light fittings

- Andrea O’Neill

A desperate St Leonards mum-of-two who has been fighting South Lanarkshir­e Council for four years over her dampridden flat claims her family was left living in darkness.

Tenant Debra McLeod is demanding that she be moved out of the top-floor property in the Easdale tower block for the health and safety of her children.

A leaking water tank on the roof of the building has destroyed her home – covering her cracked ceiling and cupboards in “toxic” black mould.

Last week she said they were living without light or a working shower, with water pouring through the light fittings leaving her flat badly damaged.

But despite repeated calls to the council for help over the years, Ms McLeod claimed she was constantly fobbed off until she called on East Kilbride’s MP and MSP for support.

The 34-year-old single mum told the News the conditions she and her 12-year-old daughter Abbie and son Stuart, 14, have been forced to live in are “utterly appalling”.

“I wake up coughing and splutterin­g the damp is so bad,” she said. “But I’m told it is not an emergency and there is nothing they can do.

“I have water constantly pouring from my bathroom, hall ceiling and light fittings. It is an absolute disgrace that I’m being left to live like this.”

Ms McLeod continued: “Every winter I have trouble with my roof leaking, causing substantia­l damage to my bathroom walls, cupboards and ceilings which are black with smelly mould.

“I’ve had several inspection­s but the council simply said there was nothing they could do.”

As well as suffering breathing problems from the dismal conditions, Ms McLeod claims to have developed alopecia and is suffering from depression.

She added: “I’ve had nothing but health problems since moving here. I’m depressed and exhausted from not being able to sleep. I’m concerned for my children. It’s just a matter of time before they get ill.

“A plumber discovered a hole at the bottom of the water tank on the roof. The room was severely flooded with several inches of water that was still to drip through my ceiling.

“But all I have been told to do is keep collecting the water in buckets! It’s absolutely ridiculous. I just want out of here.”

East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP Dr Lisa Cameron said: “This is clearly a difficult and stressful situation for Debra and her family.

“The council advised me that a full survey will be undertaken on the constituen­t’s home in order to uncover the cause of the damp problems with further plans put in place to review the tank and roof situation at her home. I will continue to support Debra in order to have this situation resolved.”

East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani added: “I was appalled when I heard what Debra was going through and I hope that we are now on the way to getting her home sorted once and for all. That must be South Lanarkshir­e Council’s priority.”

Daniel Lowe, the council’s executive director of housing and technical resources, said: “Following a report of water penetratio­n on April 17, 2018, we replaced a burst communal water tank above Ms McLeod’s home the following day.

“Ms McLeod’s home is being inspected today [Monday] and any repairs required will be carried out as a matter of urgency. This will include any issue with dampness or mould within the home.

“At this time there is no requiremen­t for Ms McLeod to be decanted from her home.”

I hope that we are now on the way to getting her home sorted once and for all...

 ??  ?? Water nightmare Debra and daughter Abbie fill buckets of water from the leaking roof
Water nightmare Debra and daughter Abbie fill buckets of water from the leaking roof
 ??  ?? Lights out Debra complains the family have been left living in darkness from the flooding
Lights out Debra complains the family have been left living in darkness from the flooding

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