We’ve been left in dark over stair lighting row
RESIDENTS have been left in the dark over damaged close lighting after an energy company denied responsibility.
Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) has been going into closes across the city to upgrade the power cables from the street into homes.
A letter from Glasgow City Council to property factors, seen by the Evening Times, states SPEN contractors are damaging stair lighting.
The council says homeowners have to foot the bill for repairs – but homeowners claim Scottish Power should fix what its workers break.
In Dennistoun, stair lighting has been broken at properties factored by Milnbank Housing Association.
Peter Morrison, maintenance officer at the association, said homeowners could be looking at bills of up to £400 for repairs.
Local councillor Elaine McDougall said: “The worry is that homeowners will refuse to pay for the repairs and the closes will be left without lighting.
“For my constituents, the worry is they are left with no stair lighting as the dark nights are coming in.
“It should be the responsibility of SPEN to pay for repairs.”
Mr Morrison added: “In a perfect world, they are not going to cause any damage but, realistically, they will – that is the nature of the work.
“But it must be repaired by them.”
Alex Young, a member of Milnbank’s management committee, added: “We aren’t being told in advance what closes they are coming to, they are just turning up.
“Residents have spoken of the mess left behind by workmen, we have photographs of drills lying out unattended while men are on their tea breaks and people are very unhappy.”
In one close, the circuit to the close door was knocked out – meaning the door must be propped open or residents would be locked in.
One resident is a ninemonths pregnant mum-to-be who was afraid of being shut in and not being able to get to hospital.
In another close, workmen left on the Friday evening and did not switch the lighting cir- cuit back on, leaving residents in the dark for three days.
A spokesman for SPEN said the electrician left the door off the supply because it was making a loud noise following the upgrade noise and has not been able to contact the maintenance company to tell them.
A Scottish Power spokesman said its contractors are not damaging stair lighting or other electricity supplies but that the lighting, in some cases, is too old to be compatible with new cables.
He said: “We are responsible for taking power from street cables in to individual properties and this work will ensure a modern and reliable electricity connection for resi- dents in those buildings.
“In circumstances where communal stair lighting is old and is not compliant with current standards, it may be the case that it is not compatible with modern cabling.
“Depending on the tenement, it would be the responsibility of either the council, the factor or housing association to ensure that stair lighting is fit for purpose.
“We have been in regular communication with the council during our work.
“In any cases where we are alerted to actual damage after our contractor has carried out work, we would always investigate and carry out any repairs if required.”