Councillors’ concern over alarm deadline
West Lothian Council is to write to Nicola Sturgeon demanding the February deadline for fitting new interlinked fire and smoke alarms be pushed back.
A composite motion of proposals by Conservative councillor Peter Heggie and Labour’s Lawrence Fitzpatrick suggested delaying the deadline for a full year as it would be “unacceptable to leave many in our community without effective insurance cover and in the meantime requests that appropriate financial assistance be made available by the Scottish Government for people on low incomes to enable them to meet the cost of required installation.”
The motion defeated an amendment proposed by the SNP group which rejected the call for a delay, arguing lives could be put at risk.
Insurance cover was not, said SNP councillors, an issue the council or the Scottish Government could address.
SNP group depute leader, Councillor Frank Anderson, told the meeting he did not believe that not having interlinked alarms would void any insurances.
The new motion agreed with Labour, said that in addition to writing to the First Minister: “Council agrees that the council enhances its website page with links to advice and guidance supplied by the Scottish Government.”
Councillor Heggie told a meeting of West Lothian Council fears had been raised by dozens of constituents about fitting the alarms, which cost up to £220 to fit.
He said: “While we welcome legislation that has the potential to make people safer, I’m very concerned about people understanding what is required and people being able to afford these upgrades.”
Councillor Fitzpatrick warned about the implications of not being covered by insurance, and shortages of trades.
Councillor Anderson had planned to raise a motion suggesting that the council use some of its cash reserves to fund the installation of alarms in the homes of those struggling to pay for it. This was presented as an amendment which was defeated by 19 votes to 12.