West Lothian Council's Approach to RAAC Repair Concerns Sparks Criticism

A protestor at Scottish Parliament on 13th November

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In response to a recent statement from Julie Whitelaw, Head of Housing, Customer and Building Services, Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, has expressed significant concerns over West Lothian Council’s handling of RAAC-affected properties and the lack of targeted financial support for homeowners.

Julie Whitelaw’s letter outlines the council’s reliance on the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to justify its limited role in addressing RAAC issues, emphasizing that the council’s focus remains on advice and non-financial assistance. However, Chowdhry strongly contends this approach, highlighting RAAC as a unique public safety crisis that demands urgent and tailored intervention.

RAAC: A Crisis, Not a Cosmetic Issue

“RAAC is not a standard repair matter. It’s a systemic safety crisis that undermines the structural integrity of homes and puts residents at risk,” said Chowdhry. “Applying the same framework used for general home repairs to RAAC is inadequate and disregards the gravity of the issue.”

He further emphasized that the catastrophic implications for homeowners—ranging from financial ruin to potential homelessness—necessitate the creation of a bespoke support mechanism. Drawing parallels to flood relief schemes, Chowdhry argued that Scotland has successfully implemented targeted support for emergencies in the past and could do so again for RAAC.

Wilson Chowdhry has registered for a deputation at West Lothian Council's Full Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 19th November. A decision regarding the deputation is expected in the morning. In preparation, an email has already been sent to Juliet Whitelaw ahead of the meeting.

Protestors were filmed by numerous TV Channels before a historic moment within the campaign for RAAC justice.

Call to Action

Chowdhry has urged West Lothian Council to aggressively pursue funding support from the Scottish Government to develop a targeted grant or loan scheme for RAAC-affected homeowners. He also called for transparency regarding property classifications in Craigshill and emphasized the need for a cohesive plan that reflects the safety-critical nature of RAAC homes.

Beleaguered homeowners from Craigshill, West Lothian, joined Wilson Chowdhry and fellow homeowners from across Scotland, including Dundee and Tillicoultry, in a UK RAAC Campaign Group protest outside Holyrood. The demonstration took place immediately before Mr. Chowdhry's petition was reviewed by the Scottish Parliament's Petitions Committee. A favorable outcome from the committee has sparked renewed hope among the 1,000 affected homeowners that a fair resolution to the crisis may still be achievable.

“The Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee’s recognition of RAAC as a national crisis sets a precedent for action. Local councils must align their policies with this urgency to prevent a humanitarian and economic disaster,” Chowdhry concluded.