EXCLUSIVE: Raac homeowners in Dundee facing 'enormous anxiety' admits John Swinney
Speaking exclusively to The Courier, Mr Swinney said discussions were underway with both Westminster and local authorities over the issue.
Dundee has the most Raac-affected residential properties in Scotland with nearly 900 homes containing the defective concrete.
Dozens more have been confirmed in Monifieth.
Mr Swinney believes all levels of government will need to work together on a solution.
The Courier is asking people to sign this petition to help give homeowners and tenants a voice.
'I've got every sympathy with people who find themselves in this situation where they're dealing with Raac issues in the property,' said the first minister.
'It will obviously cause enormous anxiety for them.'
When asked if his Westminster colleagues would be raising the issue, Mr Swinney said talks were already underway.
He told The Courier: 'There have been discussions with the UK Government.
'There's obviously discussions with local authorities underway as well.
'So I'm certainly very happy to commit the Scottish Government to engaging in those discussions with other public authorities and with homeowners who are affected.
'I think it's important that all arms of government work together collaboratively to try to find solutions.'
Housing Minister Paul McLennan recently confirmed he will meet residents in Dundee, though no date has been set.
A major concern for homeowners is that any solution found at council level will not include them.
Dundee City Council says private owners must deal with the situation themselves.
Monifieth residents are waiting to hear if they will be included in any Angus Council efforts.
Mr Swinney said: 'There's obviously complex issues to be wrestled with here because there's interactions with individual home ownership and that needs to be carefully worked through and managed.
'The best way to do that is by having an active dialogue between all different levels of government and discussing those issues with members of the public who are affected.'
Last week, The Courier's Trapped By Raac campaign enlisted the help of local businesses who displayed posters directing people to the petition website.
Campaigners need 10,000 signatures by June 17 to get a voice at Westminster.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
25 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
It is not my job to dictate what you can create, says Swinney on eve of festival
He addressed invited guests at the headquarters of the Edinburgh International Festival as the capital's festival season is set to begin. Mr Swinney told the audience on Thursday he would be a protector of freedom of speech in his time in the top job. 'I also know that freedom of expressing is under greater and greater attack, both at home and abroad,' he said. 'I want to ensure that Scotland, the birthplace of the Enlightenment, remains a country of robust debate and inquiry. John Swinney spoke at the Edinburgh International Festival Hub (Jane Barlow/PA) 'I firmly believe that art and culture must be able to challenge us, to ask us tough questions, and to force us to look at things from different perspectives. 'And, yes, it must, at times, be allowed to shock and offend us, but it can also heal us. 'Let me be absolutely clear – as First Minister, I will always protect freedom of speech in our country. 'It's not the First Minister's job to tell you what to create, nor would I ever seek to do so.' Mr Swinney added that his and his Government's role is to assist artists in any way they can. The First Minister went on to make a plea to the crowd and to wider society – with a particular nod to tech firms – to look at how the arts can be better supported financially as the Government looks to boost funding to £100 million annually in the coming years. The First Minister attended an event on the eve of the start of Edinburgh's festival season (Jane Barlow/PA) 'I'm asking that from crowdfunding to patronage, to philanthropy to local authority support and much more, we all ask ourselves how can we do more to support the arts from the grassroots up?' he said. 'How can we better support emerging artists that don't necessarily fit the current mould? 'And how, in particular, can Scotland's emerging businesses in new sectors become the new generation of patrons of the arts and culture in Scotland? 'How do we incentivise a new guard of custodians and investors in Scotland's creative economy?' Speaking to journalists after his speech, Mr Swinney said he is open to discussions about new legislation to support the cultural sector. He said there is a sense that local authorities 'might not have a particularly explicit statutory duty to support artistic and cultural activity', suggesting this area 'might need to be strengthened'.
South Wales Guardian
42 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
It is not my job to dictate what you can create, says Swinney on eve of festival
He addressed invited guests at the headquarters of the Edinburgh International Festival as the capital's festival season is set to begin. Mr Swinney told the audience on Thursday he would be a protector of freedom of speech in his time in the top job. 'I also know that freedom of expressing is under greater and greater attack, both at home and abroad,' he said. 'I want to ensure that Scotland, the birthplace of the Enlightenment, remains a country of robust debate and inquiry. 'I firmly believe that art and culture must be able to challenge us, to ask us tough questions, and to force us to look at things from different perspectives. 'And, yes, it must, at times, be allowed to shock and offend us, but it can also heal us. 'Let me be absolutely clear – as First Minister, I will always protect freedom of speech in our country. 'It's not the First Minister's job to tell you what to create, nor would I ever seek to do so.' Mr Swinney added that his and his Government's role is to assist artists in any way they can. The First Minister went on to make a plea to the crowd and to wider society – with a particular nod to tech firms – to look at how the arts can be better supported financially as the Government looks to boost funding to £100 million annually in the coming years. 'I'm asking that from crowdfunding to patronage, to philanthropy to local authority support and much more, we all ask ourselves how can we do more to support the arts from the grassroots up?' he said. 'How can we better support emerging artists that don't necessarily fit the current mould? 'And how, in particular, can Scotland's emerging businesses in new sectors become the new generation of patrons of the arts and culture in Scotland? 'How do we incentivise a new guard of custodians and investors in Scotland's creative economy?' Speaking to journalists after his speech, Mr Swinney said he is open to discussions about new legislation to support the cultural sector. He said there is a sense that local authorities 'might not have a particularly explicit statutory duty to support artistic and cultural activity', suggesting this area 'might need to be strengthened'.
Powys County Times
42 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
It is not my job to dictate what you can create, says Swinney on eve of festival
It is not for the First Minister to tell artists what to create, John Swinney has said. He addressed invited guests at the headquarters of the Edinburgh International Festival as the capital's festival season is set to begin. Mr Swinney told the audience on Thursday he would be a protector of freedom of speech in his time in the top job. 'I also know that freedom of expressing is under greater and greater attack, both at home and abroad,' he said. 'I want to ensure that Scotland, the birthplace of the Enlightenment, remains a country of robust debate and inquiry. 'I firmly believe that art and culture must be able to challenge us, to ask us tough questions, and to force us to look at things from different perspectives. 'And, yes, it must, at times, be allowed to shock and offend us, but it can also heal us. 'Let me be absolutely clear – as First Minister, I will always protect freedom of speech in our country. 'It's not the First Minister's job to tell you what to create, nor would I ever seek to do so.' Mr Swinney added that his and his Government's role is to assist artists in any way they can. The First Minister went on to make a plea to the crowd and to wider society – with a particular nod to tech firms – to look at how the arts can be better supported financially as the Government looks to boost funding to £100 million annually in the coming years. 'I'm asking that from crowdfunding to patronage, to philanthropy to local authority support and much more, we all ask ourselves how can we do more to support the arts from the grassroots up?' he said. 'How can we better support emerging artists that don't necessarily fit the current mould? 'And how, in particular, can Scotland's emerging businesses in new sectors become the new generation of patrons of the arts and culture in Scotland? 'How do we incentivise a new guard of custodians and investors in Scotland's creative economy?' Speaking to journalists after his speech, Mr Swinney said he is open to discussions about new legislation to support the cultural sector. He said there is a sense that local authorities 'might not have a particularly explicit statutory duty to support artistic and cultural activity', suggesting this area 'might need to be strengthened'.
