We’ve been fighting this since 2016 and it’s got worse
keep everything under wraps so they’ve barred us again for asking too many questions under the unacceptable actions policy.
“They say we have brought Thistle into disrepute because of our complaints but I think Thistle has done a good enough job of bringing itself into disrepute.
“Out of the blue we were both sent letters saying we’re barred. It’s just getting really, really nasty.”
A letter from Thistle HA to David reads: “The Association has considered your actions over the last few months.
“In particular the information you have posted on social media over an extended period, coupled with your persistent contact with the office via telephone, email and personal visits.
“The offensive and derogatory comments about the Association and its staff on your Facebook page is the type of behaviour that you persist in being part of, and is unacceptable.”
The letter to Ian says the association knows he is the author of the Grab The Thistle blog site, a claim he denies.
His letter reads: “The blog is highly critical of the Association and its staff; a significant number of blog posts are defamatory and a considerable number comprised personal abuse directed at certain staff members.”
Ian said: “The situation they are in now is self-survival, that’s why these letters are coming out now.
“Thistle is going to be taken over by another housing association and perhaps there will be redundancies.
“So they are now fighting for their own jobs. Their names are also tarnished by working for Thistle HA.
“They are scared now that Freedom of Information legislation applies to them that you can now ask questions and they have got to answer them.”
This Christmas will mark the fourth that residents will have had to deal with an ongoing botched major works programme.
Thistle and the energy company E.ON were given more than £6 million of Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council cash for a 14-week energy upgrade programme.
More than three years after the programme was due to have concluded, remedial works are still ongoing.
Asbestos was found in roof spaces and has not been properly dealt with.
Roofs that were replaced during the works programme need to be re-done again while, in the meantime, tiles are falling from roofs and endangering residents.
More than 100 doors have to be changed from PVC to doors that will be safe in event of a fire.
Some 70 to 80 closes have to be repainted because they were not finished properly and a number of doors were given an undercoat three years ago but never finished.
Balconies have to be repainted and mould growth on the balconies has to be dealt with, among other issues.
More than a year ago the Scottish Housing Regulator stepped in to parachute staff into the association.
Last month it was revealed that the failing housing association will finally transfer its business and assets to another social landlord.
But Ian and David claim this is too little, too late, and feel more should have been done to address Thistle’s failings much sooner.
David said: “We’ve been fighting this since 2016 and it’s got worse. Now we have big lumps of concrete falling from roofs.
“The last three winters have not been that bad but this year we’re set for freezing weather and we’re going to see contraction, expansion, contraction, on the roofs with water getting in, and there will be more damage.