Latest news with #ReinforcedAutoclavedAeratedConcrete
STV News
05-07-2025
- General
- STV News
Consultation launched on plans to reduce staffing levels at fire station
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is running a public consultation, which could lead to reduced staffing levels at Cumbernauld Fire Station. Currently the station has two fire engines which are continually crewed, but the consultation on SFRS website, which is open until September, contains two options for Lanarkshire both of which propose the same outcome for Cumbernauld. This would involve the second appliance instead being crewed by firefighters during the day shift hours of 8am-6pm Monday to Friday, but switching to an on-call basis outside of those times. Operation of the first appliance would remain unaltered. This is just a small part of the overall review, which carries 23 options for almost half of the council areas in Scotland, including proposals to close eight rural stations which have been dormant for a long time with five others earmarked for potential closure. Information provided by SFRS states that although the latest Scottish Government budget increased capital funding to £47 million, it would cost more than £800m to bring all 356 fire stations up to standard. Some stations have sub-par accommodation and facilities while others, like many public buildings, are deteriorating due to the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their construction. A public meeting has been organised in Cumbernauld, to be held in Greenfaulds Community Facility from 6-8pm on Wednesday, August 6, where a senior officer will outline the proposals and the reasons for change. To book a place email The consultation can also be contributed to via the SFRS website. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Wales Online
28-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Concern raised for RAAC affected homeowners who don't qualify for grant funding
Concern raised for RAAC affected homeowners who don't qualify for grant funding Councillor Karen Morgan raised the issue at a recent meeting of Rhondda Cynon Taf full council (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Concern has been raised for home-owners in the Valleys who are facing financial hardship or losing their homes because of the discovery of RAAC and who don't qualify for grant funding. A question at Rhondda Cynon Taf full council on Wednesday, June 25, from Hirwaun, Penderyn and Rhigos councillor Karen Morgan of Plaid Cymru said that the council has publicly stated that it is supporting the private home-owners who face financial hardship or losing their homes because of the discovery of RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) in their properties by assisting them with access to grant funding. But her question said: 'In reality the restrictive criteria means that only two home-owners in Hirwaun are eligible to apply for this support and private landlords are completely excluded from the available schemes. 'Given the devastating impact and urgency of the situation what effective support will this council give to these residents who feel they have been dismissed and abandoned by all?' Councillor Bob Harris, cabinet member for public health and communities, said works required to remove RAAC and replace it with a permanent solution at privately owned properties are ultimately the responsibility of the home-owners. To get all the latest money news straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here. But he said the council has informed the home-owners that it can help contribute towards the costs of remedial works. Article continues below Cllr Harris said that owners who have met grant eligibility criteria have been offered a £6,500 grant along with an interest free loan using Welsh Government funding to cover the remaining costs of the work. He also said that the council's housing grants department offer several loan options that provide financial assistance to residents and home-owners within RCT to ensure their home is safe to live in which includes the owner occupier home improvement loan and the property appreciation loan. Homeowners facing bills of £23,000 to deal with RAAC join call for national emergency fund He also mentioned the dedicated support worker as a point of contact for advice and assistance as well as support for private landlords and contract occupiers from public health officers in respect of the works required for each property. The housing standards team has also served legal notices on landlords to engage structural engineers to inspect their premises and once reports were received Housing Act prohibition orders were served and one family was rehoused as a priority. Cllr Morgan said many of the residents are pensioners in their 70s, 80s and older and she also said that both Welsh Government and RCT Council seem to be 'passing the buck' on this issue. She asked if the cabinet member would contact the Welsh Government to urge them to provide support as they did many years ago to private home-owners with the issue of previous council homes of non standard construction and asbestos. She said: 'It's been done before. Can we put pressure on Welsh Government to help with funding again please?' Cllr Harris said he was happy to take the point up with Welsh Government and get back to Cllr Morgan with a proper answer. Article continues below
Daily Record
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
West Lothian RAAC campaigner walks out of Holyrood meeting in disgust
The National UK RAAC campaign had asked for the Scottish Housing Regulator to expand powers to include owners of former council homes. A campaigner fighting to get more help for home-owners hit by the RAAC scandal walked out of the Scottish Parliament in disgust after MSPs rejected their petition. The National UK RAAC campaign had asked for the Scottish Housing Regulator to expand powers to include owners of former council homes. But a meeting of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 'refused to budge' according to veteran campaigner Livingston RAAC campaigner Kerry Macintosh. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that when the call to change rules was declined: 'I was so angry when I came out of the committee room. It was very hard not to say anything. I stood up and said 'shocking' and walked out.' Speaking after the meeting she told the LDRS: 'The people in parliament, the SNP government. They don't give a toss. They are not listening to what people are going through. They are overlooking things that are affecting peoples lives. 'This is as bad as the Post Office scandal. I'm just so annoyed at watching how homeowners are getting treated. 'The people in parliament are not living with what the people with RAAC in their homes are living with- the stress, the fear and the worry. There's five and half thousand people in Scotland suffering with this.' RAAC affected homeowners from across Scotland had gathered outside Holyrood on Wednesday morning ahead of scheduled hearing of a petition submitted by the UK RAAC Campaign group calling for an urgent amendment to the remit of the Scottish Housing Regulator to include private owners of ex-council properties. Currently, the SHR's responsibilities are restricted to social tenants-those who rent from councils or housing associations. This means that when a private homeowner in an ex-council house discovers dangerous materials like RAAC, they have no regulator to turn to, no statutory advocate, and no co-ordinated government response. The petition called for an alternative creation of an altogether new body to ensure that owners of ex-council homes are protected during structural crises such as the one currently unfolding because of the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete RAAC in the 1960s/ 70s. Campaign leader Wilson Chowdhry has written to the new Housing Minister Mairi McAllan asking her to meet with home owners in Tillicoultry and West Lothian.
Edinburgh Reporter
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Campaigner walks out of Holyrood in disgust as petition rebuffed
A campaigner fighting to get more help for home-owners hit by the RAAC scandal walked out of the Scottish Parliament in disgust this afternoon [Wednesday] after MSPs rejected their petition. The National UK RAAC campaign had asked for the Scottish Housing Regulator to expand powers to include owners of former council homes. But a meeting of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 'refused to budge' according to veteran campaigner Livingston RAAC campaigner Kerry Macintosh. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that when the call to change rules was declined: 'I was so angry when I came out of the committee room. It was very hard not to say anything. I stood up and said 'shocking' and walked out.' Speaking after the meeting she told the LDRS: 'The people in parliament, the SNP government. They don't give a toss. They are not listening to what people are going through. They are overlooking things that are affecting people's lives. 'This is as bad as the Post Office scandal. I'm just so annoyed at watching how homeowners are getting treated. The people in parliament are not living with what the people with RAAC in their homes are living with- the stress, the fear and the worry. There's five and half thousand people in Scotland suffering with this.' RAAC affected homeowners from across Scotland had gathered outside Holyrood on Wednesday morning ahead of scheduled hearing of a petition submitted by the UK RAAC Campaign group calling for an urgent amendment to the remit of the Scottish Housing Regulator to include private owners of ex-council properties. Currently, the SHR's responsibilities are restricted to social tenants—those who rent from councils or housing associations. This means that when a private homeowner in an ex-council house discovers dangerous materials like RAAC, they have no regulator to turn to, no statutory advocate, and no co-ordinated government response. The petition called for an alternative creation of an altogether new body to ensure that owners of ex-council homes are protected during structural crises such as the one currently unfolding because of the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete RAAC in the 1960s/ 70s. Campaign leader Wilson Chowdhry has written to the new Housing Minister Mairi McAllan asking her to meet with homeowners in Tillicoultry and West Lothian. By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Live
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian RAAC campaigner walks out of Holyrood meeting in disgust
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A campaigner fighting to get more help for home-owners hit by the RAAC scandal walked out of the Scottish Parliament in disgust this afternoon [Wednesday] after MSPs rejected their petition. The National UK RAAC campaign had asked for the Scottish Housing Regulator to expand powers to include owners of former council homes. But a meeting of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 'refused to budge' according to veteran campaigner Livingston RAAC campaigner Kerry Macintosh. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that when the call to change rules was declined: 'I was so angry when I came out of the committee room. It was very hard not to say anything. I stood up and said 'shocking' and walked out.' Speaking after the meeting she told the LDRS: ' The people in parliament, the SNP government. They don't give a toss. They are not listening to what people are going through. They are overlooking things that are affecting peoples lives. "This is as bad as the Post Office scandal. I'm just so annoyed at watching how homeowners are getting treated. The people in parliament are not living with what the people with RAAC in their homes are living with- the stress, the fear and the worry. There's five and half thousand people in Scotland suffering with this.' RAAC affected homeowners from across Scotland had gathered outside Holyrood on Wednesday morning ahead of scheduled hearing of a petition submitted by the UK RAAC Campaign group calling for an urgent amendment to the remit of the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) to include private owners of ex-council properties. Currently, the SHR's responsibilities are restricted to social tenants—those who rent from councils or housing associations. This means that when a private homeowner in an ex-council house discovers dangerous materials like RAAC, they have no regulator to turn to, no statutory advocate, and no co-ordinated government response. The petition called for an alternative creation of an altogether new body to ensure that owners of ex-council homes are protected during structural crises such as the one currently unfolding because of the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete RAAC in the 1960s/ 70s. Campaign leader Wilson Chowdhry has written to the new Housing Minister Mairi McAllan asking her to meet with home owners in Tillicoultry and West Lothian.
