Protest is planned as campaign for unsafe concrete compensation grows
Calls for a national compensation fund to help homeowners affected by a dangerous form of concrete have been backed by a West Lothian campaigner.
Last year reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) was found in about 500 homes in the Balnagask area of Aberdeen, including 364 council properties. Hundreds of tenants face being rehomed over the problem.
A residents’ campaign has already tried to meet with the city council, a petition has so far attracted over 600 signatures and a protest march is planned in the city on March 28.
And they have now urged West Lothian residents affected by the problem to join the campaign, with the backing of “ghost estate” campaigner Kerry Macintosh.
Kerry, who fought for more than 18 years for fair treatment after Raac was discovered in her home in Livingston, said: “Aberdeen homeowners contacted me to post their petition. They are planning a protest. I will be supporting them from afar. I’m happy to back all homeowners in their campaign.”
The petition asks the Scottish Parliament to allocate a budget to support struggling homeowners in the Balnagask area, and across the UK, who purchased ex-council homes without being informed about the use of substandard building materials.
Kerry added: “The reason the RACC situation has happened is because of council chambers, Labour and the Tories. The Scottish government doesn’t have enough money to fund the Raac solution – the UK government has to provide a national fund for homeowners across the UK.”
Kerry has a meeting next month with Lothians MSP Foysol Choudhury and is planning a protest in the near future for all homeowners affected by Raac in West Lothian.
She has also highlighted other campaigns, and breaking news stories of Raac discoveries elsewhere in the country including in South Wales where a housing association had advised residents to evacuate. More than 40 households have been advised to evacuate after issues with Raac were found.
Sign the petition at: https://www.ipetitions.com/ petition/concrete-solutionsfor-raac-problem.