Residents of Tillicoultry gathered at Centenary Hall on August 24th for a meeting hosted by the Clackmannanshire Tenants and Residents Federation to discuss the ongoing challenges faced by homeowners and tenants after the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their homes. The meeting, chaired by June Anderson, provided an important platform for residents to voice their concerns directly to local authorities and elected officials. Brian Leishman MP for Alloa and Grangemouth and Wilson Chowdhry Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group attended the meeting to listen and understand the issues firsthand, pledging their support to resolve the crisis.
Residents Share Stories of Evacuation and Lack of Support
Jimmy and Fiona Vallance shared their harrowing experience of being evacuated from their home on short notice. They described how Clackmannanshire Council officials delivered a letter at 3:30 pm, followed by an unexpected visit at 6:30 pm to evacuate them immediately. The Vallances were told to pack two suitcases and find alternative accommodation, forcing them to live temporarily with friends. Due to the nature of Jimmy's work shifts, this arrangement was unsustainable, and they were eventually moved to temporary accommodation in Alva. Their furniture remains in storage in Cowdenbeath, causing ongoing stress and financial strain.
Lynsey McQuater highlighted the inadequate support provided in the immediate aftermath of the evacuations. She noted that two of the four Council-appointed liaison officers were on holiday and unaware of their responsibilities to assist residents during this critical time. Owain Carter added that repeated calls for mental health support had largely gone unanswered by the Council. Residents expressed their gratitude towards a Council employee named Maria, who, despite the challenging circumstances, tried her best to support both tenants and homeowners, advocating for their needs with limited success.
Residents of the Park Street and High Street blocks expressed their frustration that the chaotic evacuation process, first seen in Chapelle Crescent, was repeated in their area without any improvements or lessons learned. Many felt that no impact assessments were conducted prior to the evacuations, compounding their sense of neglect and mistreatment by the Council.
Restricted Access to Homes and Concerns About Property Safety
One of the major points of contention among residents is the ongoing restriction on re-entry to their homes. Several residents reported being unable to access their properties to retrieve essential items such as passports, driving licences, and recently installed kitchen units that remain unpaid for. Although a structural engineer had determined that the buildings were safe for short, monitored visits, the Council continued to refuse access, citing health and safety concerns. This refusal has left many residents feeling trapped and powerless, unable to recover their belongings or assess the condition of their homes. At the meeting, Mr. Wilson Chowdhry confirmed that his discussions with the Council, which included communications with senior officers, Chief Executive Nikki Bridle, and Provost Donald Balsillie, revealed that efforts were underway to permit accompanied entry into the affected properties. A meeting would soon be arranged to discuss the specific parameters of this access. Council officers also indicated that they hoped to allow the removal of integrated appliances, although any fixtures attached to the building walls would remain in place.
Owain Carter raised concerns about a Freedom of Information (FOI) request he submitted, which revealed that the Council had considered demolishing the Chapelle Crescent flats before the RAAC issues were identified. He also criticised the Council for quietly withdrawing as factors of the building in late 2022, without informing residents. Mr. Carter believes that the Council deliberately neglected maintenance of the properties, as evidenced by the failure to replace a felt roof covering that was already seven years past its expiration date. He continues to await a response from the Council regarding his latest FOI request, one of four he has submitted on the matter. Mr. Chowdhry confirmed the response from Clackmannanshire Council to his Freedom of Information request, in which Pearl McMenemy, the Monitoring Officer, stated: “I can confirm that we do not believe there to be any requirement for notification of de-registration to be provided in writing; however, we do accept that it may have been beneficial to have notified residents in writing of this change.” MP Leishman agreed to raise the issue with Clackmannanshire Council.
National Response and Legal Advice from UK RAAC Campaign Group
Wilson Chowdhry, representing the UK RAAC Campaign Group, provided insight into the wider implications of the RAAC crisis across the UK. He noted that Scotland is disproportionately affected, with 1,994 homes identified by the Scottish Housing Regulator as containing RAAC, compared to 18 in England and 44 in Wales. Mr. Chowdhry urged residents to seek legal advice before accepting any compensation offers from the Council, noting that local legal representatives have been reluctant to take on these cases. He pledged to explore further legal avenues and launch a media campaign to bring more attention to the issue.
Mr. Chowdhry also called for urgent amendments to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to protect homeowners who lose their properties due to health and safety concerns. He argued that banks should not charge interest on outstanding loans in these circumstances, particularly given the significant public funds used to bail out banks during the financial crisis. Mr. Chowdhry emphasized that it is now time for banks to reciprocate that support by offering relief to those facing financial hardship through no fault of their own.
Furthermore, Mr Chowdhry proposed changes to the Finance Act 2003, advocating for the reinstatement of first-time buyer status for individuals who lose their homes due to safety issues if the property was their primary residence. He stressed that these amendments would introduce much-needed fairness into what has become a debilitating situation for affected homeowners.
Mr. Chowdhry also called for legislative changes similar to the General Product Safety Regulations, aiming to hold developers, councils, and housing associations accountable for the use of substandard building materials like RAAC. He argued for a national register of high-risk buildings and for mandatory disclosure of property risks to protect future buyers. Wilson's proposals included a call for the UK Government to initiate a public inquiry into how councils and housing associations have handled RAAC-related safety reports, property sales, and homeowner concerns.
Mr. Chowdhry urged MP Leishman to utilize parliamentary tools, such as Early Day Motions and questions in Parliament, to advocate for change in the current situation.
Political Support and Future Actions
Responding to residents’ concerns, Brian Leishman MP committed to taking concrete actions on their behalf. He outlined plans to write to key government officials, including Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Ian Murray, Secretary of State for Scotland, and John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland, urging a coordinated response from both the UK and Scottish Governments. Brian also pledged to raise the issue through Parliamentary Questions to seek legislative changes that could prevent similar crises in the future. In an email Mr Leishman, wrote:
"I am of course happy to consider Parliamentary Questions further down the line, but that may take some time as we are currently in recess and more or less will be until after conference season ends in a few weeks. I have taken the more immediate step of writing now directly to the various Secretaries of State and Ministers, in order that I can get things moving forward as quickly as I can."
Mr. Leishman underscored the need for collaboration between the Scottish and UK Governments, stressing that this is not a political issue but a matter of safeguarding people’s lives and homes. He also plans to engage directly with Nikki Bridle, Chief Executive of Clackmannanshire Council, to push for more transparent and urgent action on behalf of affected residents. Mr. Leishman agreed to include Mr. Chowdhry in all communications with the relevant bodies.
Residents were encouraged to continue their media campaign and keep their plight in the public eye. Brian requested that any FOI information be forwarded to him to aid in his efforts.
Mr. Chowdhry emphasised that the actions he is pursuing are unprecedented among MPs and expressed his gratitude for the service provided to those impacted by the RAAC crisis.
Calls for Compensation and Further Investigations
Compensation was a key focus of the meeting, with residents calling for support that goes beyond structural repairs. They highlighted the need for compensation for lost personal belongings, including furniture, curtains, and appliances. Some residents noted that their fridges and freezers had been left with rotting food for over ten months, making them unfit for reuse and requiring replacement.
Concerns were also raised about the impact of metal shutters installed for security on ground-floor windows. The removal of glass panes to accommodate the shutters has reportedly led to increased dampness inside the properties, further deteriorating the already fragile living conditions.
Next Steps
As the meeting concluded, residents agreed to maintain pressure on local and national authorities. A petition is currently being created via Clackmannanshire's web portal. Residents hope to secure enough signatures for Wilson Chowdhry to represent residents at the next Council meeting, with 250 signatures needed for this representation.
Residents expressed their gratitude to Brian Leishman MP for his proactive approach, dedication, and willingness to support their ongoing campaign.
For further information, please contact the UK RAAC Campaign Group at wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
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