A Breakthrough for RAAC Families: The Early Support Scheme Secured After Campaign Pressure

Wilson and Hannah Chowdhry ahead of the first meeting between RAAC-affected homeowners and Stephen Booth, Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord at Aberdeen City Council, in 2024.

Support our campaign crowdfund  (click here)  Or donate direct to the UK RAAC Campaign Group using these details: SC: 20-29-24 ACCT No: 03355349  

Months on from a major breakthrough, the UK RAAC Campaign Group hopes affected homeowners are now benefiting from vital relocation support

Earlier this year, the UK RAAC Campaign Group achieved an important breakthrough for families affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in Aberdeen.

After listening to the experiences of distressed homeowners and raising their concerns directly with Aberdeen City Council, the campaign helped secure a practical solution to one of the biggest barriers facing families trying to move forward:

How can people relocate when they cannot access the money needed to begin the process?

The answer came in March 2026, when Aberdeen City Council confirmed that advance payments could be considered for eligible homeowners participating in the voluntary acquisition process.

This was a significant moment for RAAC families who had spent months explaining that the problem was not unwillingness to move — it was the financial reality of moving.

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The Problem Was Clear: Families Were Trapped

RAAC homeowners have faced an extraordinary situation.

Many were forced to leave properties they had worked hard to own, while still carrying the emotional and financial burden of homes they could no longer safely occupy.

Although the voluntary acquisition process provided a route forward, families highlighted a major practical obstacle.

Moving requires money.

Deposits for alternative accommodation, removal costs, temporary arrangements and other expenses all have to be paid before families can rebuild their lives.

The UK RAAC Campaign Group raised this issue directly during a meeting on 5th March 2026 between Wilson and Hannah Chowdhry and senior Aberdeen City Council representatives Stephen Booth and Gail Beattie.

The campaign proposed that homeowners should be able to access part of their agreed acquisition payment earlier, or alternatively be given greater flexibility around moving deadlines.

The message was simple:

“Families cannot relocate without the financial means to do so.”

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A Positive Change Was Delivered

Following those discussions, Aberdeen City Council confirmed a new approach.

The Council advised that homeowners taking part in the voluntary acquisition process who were facing difficulties progressing their move could be considered for an advance payment of up to 20% of the agreed market value of their property.

The support was designed to help families secure alternative accommodation and overcome the financial barriers preventing them from moving forward.

The arrangement included safeguards to ensure the process could be managed properly, including requirements around formal missives, agreed dates of entry and solicitor involvement.

For many homeowners, this represented a much-needed recognition of the reality they had been highlighting for months.  Mr Booth wrote:

With regard to the specific issue of financial assistance, discussions took place during the spring of 2026 concerning the practical difficulties some homeowners were experiencing in progressing relocation while awaiting completion of the voluntary acquisition process. Following consideration by officers through the Council's RAAC governance arrangements, it was agreed that advance payments could be considered in appropriate circumstances to assist homeowners who wished to proceed with a voluntary sale but who were experiencing financial barriers to moving.

As a result, communications issued to homeowners during March 2026 advised that, where appropriate, the Council may make an advance payment of up to 20% of the agreed market value of a property. This was subject to a formal missive being in place, an agreed date of entry, and payment being capable of being progressed through solicitors. The purpose of this arrangement was to provide practical assistance to homeowners who required support in securing alternative accommodation before settlement of their sale.

The position remains that homeowners participating in the voluntary acquisition process who experience difficulties in progressing a move should contact the Council's RAAC team so that their circumstances can be considered on an individual basis and appropriate support explored.

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A Victory Achieved Through Listening and Persistence

The UK RAAC Campaign Group welcomes this development as an example of what can be achieved when affected families are heard.

The breakthrough did not happen by accident.

It came because homeowners shared their experiences, campaigners raised concerns, and decision-makers were challenged to consider solutions based on the real-life circumstances of those affected.

Wilson Chowdhry said:

“This was never about confrontation. It was about ensuring that the voices of RAAC families were heard and that practical barriers were addressed. Families needed a workable route forward, and we are pleased that this support became available.”

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Months Later: We Hope Families Are Benefiting

As we reflect on this important milestone, our hope is that RAAC-affected homeowners who needed this assistance have now been able to access it and use it to begin rebuilding their lives.

For those still struggling to move forward, we encourage them to engage with Aberdeen City Council’s RAAC team and explore whether this support may apply to their circumstances.

No family should remain trapped simply because they cannot afford the immediate costs associated with relocation.

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The Campaign Continues

While this was a significant victory, the UK RAAC Campaign Group recognises that many challenges remain.

RAAC families across the country continue to seek fairness, transparency and support as they navigate a crisis they never created.

The early payment concession shows that progress is possible when concerns are properly raised and practical solutions are pursued.

This breakthrough belongs to every homeowner who spoke out, shared their story and refused to allow their situation to be ignored.

Together, we continue to stand with RAAC families and campaign for a fair resolution.

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The RAAC crisis is not just about concrete—it is about accountability.

And we are far from finished.

JOIN OUR 'UK RAAC CAMPAIGN GROUP' FB PAGE (HERE)

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION  (CLICK HERE), 

📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
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#RAACScandal #Petition2113 #ScottishParliament #SupportRAACVictims #EndTheSilence  

RAAC Homeowners Still Waiting for Answers as Clackmannanshire Council Leader Responds to Open Letter with Offer of Meeting

RAAC campaigners at Kilncraigs before a meeting with Housing Minister Mairi McAllan

Support our campaign crowdfund  (click here)  Or donate direct to the UK RAAC Campaign Group using these details: SC: 20-29-24 ACCT No: 03355349  

Last week I published an article highlighting the frustration of RAAC homeowners in Tillicoultry after months of silence from Clackmannanshire Council.

Following that article, I wrote an open letter to Councillor Ellen Forson, Leader of Clackmannanshire Council, copying every councillor, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, and officials within the Scottish Government Housing Directorate.

The purpose of the letter was simple: to correct what I believed were several misconceptions in Councillor Forson's previous correspondence and to remind the Council of the assurances homeowners had received over the past six months.

The response I received on 8 July was courteous and welcomed a future meeting with homeowners.

Unfortunately, it left the most important questions unanswered.

Correcting the Record

My open letter first challenged Councillor Forson's assertion that only "six working days" had elapsed before she provided a substantive response.

While that may have been technically correct if weekends were excluded, it failed to acknowledge that almost two weeks had passed since her initial acknowledgement of Fran's email.

More importantly, I pointed out that the issue did not begin with Fran's correspondence.

Every councillor had already received numerous emails from me over many months outlining homeowners' concerns. Those emails were deliberately copied to local media to ensure there was a transparent public record of the issues being raised.

As the recognised spokesperson for the affected homeowners, councillors had every opportunity to contact me directly with updates or clarification.

None did.

The reality is that homeowners have been waiting for meaningful communication since the meeting with the Housing Minister in November 2025.

The Council Suspended Its Own Deadlines

One of the most significant issues raised in my letter concerned the Council's own correspondence.

Councillor Forson's previous email suggested that homeowners had delayed matters by failing to make decisions on the offers available to them.

That does not reflect what Council officers themselves communicated.

After homeowners sought clarification regarding the Council's acceptance deadline, Andrew Buchanan, Interim Senior Manager for Housing, wrote to me on 9 January 2026 stating:

"Please consider the deadline as suspended with further information to follow as soon as we have it."

He explained that the Council was reviewing its offers while continuing discussions with the Scottish Government following the meeting with the Cabinet Secretary.

Homeowners accepted those assurances in good faith.

Six months later, the promised update has still not arrived.

Six Months of Waiting

During those six months, homeowners have continued to incur significant financial costs.

Many have remained responsible for mortgages, insurance premiums and other unavoidable expenses on homes they cannot safely occupy.

At the same time, several important questions have remained unanswered.

These include:

• revised purchase offers;
• the VAT liability each homeowner would face;
• details of environmental retrofit funding that had been mentioned by Council officers;
• clarification of any additional fixed payment the Council was considering.

These are not minor administrative matters.

They affect life-changing financial decisions for families who have already endured years of uncertainty.

What Homeowners Were Actually Told

One issue I felt particularly important to clarify concerned discussions with the Scottish Government.

Councillor Forson's earlier email suggested that Scottish Government funding did not alter the offers available to homeowners.

Nobody has ever argued that the Affordable Housing Supply Programme grant itself should be distributed directly to residents.

That was never the proposal.

Instead, following the meeting with the Housing Minister and subsequent discussions with officials in the Scottish Government's Better Homes Division, homeowners were given to understand that once remediation funding had been secured, Clackmannanshire Council would explore whether resources from elsewhere within its own budgets could be used to provide a fixed payment to affected homeowners.

That understanding was reinforced by Council officers over many months.

Indeed, as recently as March this year, Kevin Wells advised me that, depending on the amount of Scottish Government funding received, the Council was considering a fixed payment of between £10,000 and £15,000 for homeowners.

My open letter therefore asked an obvious question:

What changed?

If homeowners were repeatedly encouraged to wait while those discussions took place, why are they now being told that no additional financial assistance is available?

A Modest Proposal

Recognising the financial pressures facing local authorities, my letter did not insist upon the figures that had previously been discussed.

Instead, I appealed for the Council to consider a more modest payment of £5,000 per homeowner.

For many families, this would simply clear their remaining mortgage balance.

At the very least, it would recognise the additional financial burden homeowners have carried during the six months they were asked to wait while negotiations continued.

The Council's Response

Councillor Forson's reply acknowledges the concerns raised but largely avoids addressing them.

She explains that she cannot unilaterally alter decisions made by the Council and that officers are implementing the agreed policy.

That is not in dispute.

However, my letter did not ask her to overturn Council policy alone.

It asked the Council to reconsider its position in light of changed circumstances and the expectations created during months of discussions with both the Scottish Government and affected homeowners.

Importantly, the response does not address any of the specific factual issues raised.

It does not explain why Andrew Buchanan confirmed that deadlines had been suspended.

It does not explain why homeowners have waited six months without the promised update.

It does not explain what became of the proposed fixed payment discussed by officers.

Nor does it explain why homeowners continue to await clarity regarding VAT liabilities and other outstanding financial matters.

Instead, Councillor Forson in an email dated 8th July states that further correspondence is unlikely to be productive and that officers will arrange a meeting between homeowners, elected members and senior officials.

The text of her email reads: 

Dear Mr Chowdhry

Thank you for your further email.

I note the points you have raised.

As you will appreciate, the Council’s agreed approach was determined through the Council’s decision-making process. Neither I, nor any individual councillor, has the authority to unilaterally alter or override that decision. Council officers are therefore working to implement the decision taken by the Council.

I recognise that everyone is keen to receive further information on the next steps. While I am not involved in the operational delivery of this work, I have made my views clear to officers that communication should be timely, clear and consistent, and that residents should be kept informed as matters progress.

As I stated in my previous email, I agree that a meeting with elected members and senior officers would be helpful. I have asked officers to arrange this as soon as practicable - you have highlighted in your letter some of challenges at this time of year, but I understand they will be in touch with details once arrangements have been made. I hope this meeting will provide an opportunity for officers to provide clarity on the current position, explain the next steps and answer any questions that homeowners may have.

I fully appreciate that this has been a lengthy and difficult process for everyone affected, and I remain committed to ensuring that communication is as clear and timely as possible within the Council’s role and responsibilities.

I hope you will understand that, rather than continuing to exchange correspondence, I believe it is now more constructive to bring everyone together so that homeowners can receive a full update and have the opportunity to ask questions directly. I look forward to a positive and productive discussion.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Ellen Forson
Leader of Clackmannanshire Council

An Opportunity to Rebuild Trust

I welcome that commitment.

Indeed, homeowners have been requesting precisely this type of meeting for many months.

However, after years of uncertainty, the meeting must deliver more than another general update.

It must answer the questions that homeowners have patiently and repeatedly raised.

Families deserve to understand why expectations changed, why promised updates never arrived and whether the Council is prepared to acknowledge the financial hardship caused by asking residents to wait an additional six months while discussions continued.

Only through honest dialogue and transparent decision-making can confidence begin to be restored.

Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said:

"I welcome Councillor Forson's willingness to bring homeowners, elected members and senior officers together. We have sought meaningful dialogue for many months, and I sincerely hope this meeting marks the beginning of a more transparent relationship between the Council and the families affected by RAAC. However, dialogue alone is not enough. Homeowners deserve clear answers to the questions they have been asking for months, and they deserve recognition of the financial hardship they have endured while waiting in good faith for decisions that repeatedly appeared to be just around the corner. We will attend this meeting constructively and with an open mind, but we also expect openness from the Council. Only by acknowledging what has happened and addressing the outstanding issues can trust begin to be rebuilt."

The RAAC crisis is not just about concrete—it is about accountability.

And we are far from finished.

JOIN OUR 'UK RAAC CAMPAIGN GROUP' FB PAGE (HERE)

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION  (CLICK HERE), 

📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry

#RAACScandal #Petition2113 #ScottishParliament #SupportRAACVictims #EndTheSilence  

Open Letter to Councillor Ellen Forson (follow-up)

 Open Letter to Councillor Ellen Forson

Leader of Clackmannanshire Council

Cc: All Clackmannanshire Councillors; Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing, Shirley-Anne Somerville; Scottish Government Housing Directorate

Dear Councillor Forson,

Thank you for your response of 7 July.

I appreciate your apology regarding communication, but I must respectfully correct a number of points within your email.

Firstly, your calculation of the response time is misleading. Fran emailed you on 24 June and received your acknowledgement on 25 June. No further update was provided until your email of 7 July. Depending on whether 25 June is counted, this represents 12–13 calendar days without any substantive response.

I appreciate that you refer to six working days. However, councillors do not simply cease acting at weekends. Councillors across the UK routinely undertake official duties seven days a week, including attending community events, opening ceremonies and responding to residents' correspondence. Indeed, I can provide numerous examples of elected members responding to emails over weekends. It is therefore disappointing that the passage of almost two weeks is being presented as though only six days have elapsed.

More importantly, this matter did not begin with Fran's email. Every councillor received my earlier correspondence, together with emails copied to the local media, specifically to ensure there was a clear public record of homeowners' concerns. All elected members were aware that I had been asked to act as spokesperson for the affected homeowners and could have contacted me at any point with an update. Unfortunately, no elected member has done so despite homeowners waiting for meaningful progress since the meeting with the Housing Minister in November last year.

I also believe your understanding of the current position does not accurately reflect what homeowners have been told by Council officers over the last several months.

You state that the Council has been awaiting decisions from homeowners and that delays now risk the remediation programme. That is not consistent with the information officers have repeatedly provided.

Several deadlines previously given for accepting the Council's offers were allowed to lapse. I repeatedly sought clarification from Andrew Buchanan, Kim Grieve and Kevin Wells regarding those deadlines. We were consistently informed that matters had been placed on hold pending discussions with the Scottish Government and consideration of whether additional financial assistance could be made available.

Indeed, on 9 January 2026 Andrew Buchanan confirmed in writing:

"Please consider the deadline as suspended with further information to follow as soon as we have it."

He went on to explain that the Council was reviewing its offers and engaging with the Scottish Government following the November meeting with the Cabinet Secretary.

Six months have now passed since that assurance. No further information has been issued.

During that period, homeowners have continued to wait for:

·       confirmation of revised offers;

·       confirmation of the VAT liability each homeowner would face, despite requesting this information for well over a year;

·       information regarding the environmental retrofit funding Mr Kevin Wells advised might offset homeowners' costs;

·       clarification regarding any additional fixed payment that officers repeatedly indicated was being explored.

Throughout this period homeowners have continued paying mortgages, insurance and other unavoidable costs while remaining unable to live in their homes.

Your email also appears to misunderstand what was discussed with the Housing Minister.

Nobody expected the Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Supply Programme grant itself to be paid directly to homeowners. That was never the proposal.

At the meeting with the Housing Minister, and subsequently during discussions with officials from the Better Homes Division, it was made clear that the Scottish Government would expedite the Council's application for remediation funding. The expectation discussed at those meetings was that, once remediation funding had been secured, the Council would explore whether resources from elsewhere within its budgets could be used to provide homeowners with a fixed payment to assist them in moving forward.

Council officers reinforced that expectation over the following months. As recently as March, Kevin Wells informed me that, depending upon the level of grant received from the Scottish Government, the Council was considering an additional fixed payment of between £10,000 and £15,000 for affected homeowners.

Your email now appears to abandon that position entirely.

It is therefore extremely disappointing that, after asking homeowners to wait a further six months whilst these discussions continued, the Council now simply states that no additional financial assistance will be forthcoming despite having secured the Scottish Government funding for the remediation programme.

I would therefore again ask the Council to reconsider.

Even a fixed payment of £5,000 per homeowner would make a significant difference. For many residents it would clear the balance of their remaining mortgages. At the very least, it would provide some recognition of the additional financial burden homeowners have borne over the last six months while waiting for the Council's decision regarding the redistribution of its own resources following receipt of the Scottish Government grant.

Finally, I welcome your commitment to arranging a meeting between homeowners, elected members and senior officers. I hope this can take place as soon as possible. I do, however, have several holidays already booked over the coming weeks, so I would appreciate as much notice as possible to maximise the opportunity for me and other homeowners to attend.

I look forward to receiving details of the meeting and, more importantly, to finally receiving the substantive update that homeowners have patiently awaited for many months.

Yours sincerely,

Wilson Chowdhry

Chairman

UK RAAC Campaign Group

On behalf of affected RAAC homeowners in Tillicoultry

Cc: Clackmannanshire Council, Scottish Government Housing Directorate, Housing Minister Shirley-Anne Summervile

 

 

Clacks Council Leader Urged to Break Silence as RAAC Homeowners Demand Answers and Greater Public Participation

RAAC campaigners at Kilncraigs before a meeting with Housing Minister Mairi McAllan

Support our campaign crowdfund  (click here)  Or donate direct to the UK RAAC Campaign Group using these details: SC: 20-29-24 ACCT No: 03355349  

The UK RAAC Campaign Group has today written an open letter to Councillor Ellen Forson, Leader of Clackmannanshire Council, calling for urgent action to improve communication with homeowners affected by the Tillicoultry RAAC crisis.

The letter follows a collective email sent by homeowners to every councillor on 24 June requesting an update after Scottish Government funding was confirmed for the council's voluntary acquisition programme.

Only two councillors responded.

Councillor Ellen Forson replied the following day, stating:

"I have asked Kevin for an update and will be happy to meet once I get that."

Almost two weeks later, homeowners say no further update has been provided.

Campaigners argue that this continuing silence is unacceptable given that families have now spent almost three years living with the consequences of the RAAC crisis.

Many continue paying mortgages and insurance on homes they cannot occupy. Others have sold properties at values substantially affected by the presence of RAAC. Almost every family has experienced prolonged uncertainty, financial hardship and significant emotional distress while waiting for decisions that will determine their future.

Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said the lack of communication has now reached the point where even the Leader of the Council appears unable to obtain timely information from senior officers.

"If the Leader of the Council cannot obtain an update within two weeks, what hope do ordinary residents have?" he asked.

"The issue is no longer simply about delays. It is about accountability. Homeowners deserve timely information about decisions that affect their homes, finances and futures."

The letter asks Councillor Forson to intervene personally to arrange an urgent meeting between homeowners, council officers and elected members.

It also seeks clarification on what standards of communication residents should reasonably expect from the council and asks why repeated requests for updates from homeowners, campaigners and elected members have gone unanswered.

Beyond the immediate RAAC crisis, the letter raises wider concerns about public participation in local democracy.

Campaigners argue that Clackmannanshire Council provides fewer opportunities for residents to engage directly with elected members than many other Scottish councils. Unlike authorities such as Aberdeen City Council and West Lothian Council, members of the public cannot present deputations or ask questions directly at council meetings. The council's petition process has also been criticised as overly procedural, making it difficult for residents to raise issues of public concern.

Mr Chowdhry believes those arrangements have contributed to homeowners feeling excluded from decisions that have fundamentally affected their lives.

The open letter therefore calls on the Council Leader to review the authority's public participation procedures and consider reforms that would bring Clackmannanshire more closely into line with councils offering greater transparency and public engagement.

"Good local government depends upon openness," Mr Chowdhry said.

"A healthy democracy depends on challenge and scrutiny. Where residents are denied meaningful opportunities to question decisions or present their case directly to elected members, accountability inevitably suffers. The RAAC crisis has shown how limited public participation can leave communities feeling powerless while life-changing decisions are taken without the benefit of those who know the issues best. That is not how local democracy should work."

The letter has been copied to all Clackmannanshire councillors and to the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing in the hope that renewed attention will help bring homeowners the answers they have sought for far too long.

The RAAC crisis is not just about concrete—it is about accountability.

And we are far from finished.

JOIN OUR 'UK RAAC CAMPAIGN GROUP' FB PAGE (HERE)

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION  (CLICK HERE), 

📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry

#RAACScandal #Petition2113 #ScottishParliament #SupportRAACVictims #EndTheSilence 

Open Letter to Councillor Ellen Forson - Break RAAC Silence improve Public Participation

 

Open Letter to Councillor Ellen Forson

Leader of Clackmannanshire Council

Please Break Silence as RAAC Homeowners Demand Answers and Greater Public Participation

Cc: All Clackmannanshire Councillors; Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing, Shirley-Anne Somerville; Scottish Government Housing Directorate

Dear Councillor Forson,

I am writing to express my profound disappointment regarding the continued lack of communication with homeowners affected by the RAAC crisis in Tillicoultry.

On 24 June 2026, homeowners wrote collectively to all Clackmannanshire councillors seeking an update on the progress of discussions following confirmation that Scottish Government funding had been secured to support the council's voluntary acquisition programme.

Your reply, dated 25 June, was one of only two responses received from elected members despite many councillors representing wards in which affected homeowners now live. You stated:

"Hi Fran,

I have asked Kevin for an update and will be happy to meet once I get that.

Kind regards

Ellen"

Today, almost two weeks later, no further update has been provided.

As Leader of Clackmannanshire Council, I find it deeply concerning that you appear to have been unable to obtain the information necessary to update residents on one of the most significant housing issues the council has faced in recent years.

Homeowners have now been displaced from their homes for almost three years. During that time many have continued paying mortgages, insurance premiums and other costs on properties they have been unable to occupy. Others have faced the agonising decision of selling homes they expected to spend the rest of their lives in, often at values significantly affected by the presence of RAAC. Families have endured prolonged uncertainty, deteriorating mental health, financial hardship and the loss of security that comes with owning a home.

Against that backdrop, waiting a further two weeks for even a basic update is simply not acceptable.

Residents are not asking for completed negotiations or final decisions. They are asking to be treated with the openness and respect they deserve. Where decisions remain outstanding, they deserve to know why. Where discussions are continuing, they deserve to understand the process and likely timescales. Silence is not meaningful communication.

I therefore ask that you personally intervene to expedite a meeting between homeowners, senior officers and elected members as soon as possible. Such a meeting would provide an opportunity for residents to receive updates directly, ask questions and begin rebuilding confidence in a process that has become increasingly opaque.

I would also welcome your views on what constitutes a reasonable standard for responding to residents in circumstances such as these. Do you believe it is acceptable that homeowners should wait weeks for updates after repeated letters, emails and telephone calls? Do you consider it appropriate that councillors themselves appear unable to obtain timely information from senior officers? If not, what action do you intend to take to improve communication between the council and those whose lives have been so profoundly affected?

I would also appreciate an explanation as to why information has not been shared more openly with affected homeowners and with me in my role as Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, despite numerous requests over many months. Regular and transparent communication should not depend upon persistent follow-up by residents or campaigners.

Finally, I wish to raise a broader issue concerning democratic accountability.

The RAAC crisis has exposed what many residents believe are significant shortcomings in public participation within Clackmannanshire Council. Unlike a number of other Scottish local authorities, including Aberdeen City Council and West Lothian Council, members of the public cannot present deputations or ask questions directly at meetings of the full council. The petition process is also highly procedural and presents considerable barriers to residents wishing to raise matters of public concern.

The consequence is that communities affected by major council decisions have few meaningful opportunities to engage directly with elected members before decisions are taken. This has contributed to many homeowners feeling excluded from decisions that have fundamentally altered their lives.

I therefore ask whether you would be willing to undertake a review of the council's public participation arrangements with a view to bringing them more closely into line with councils that provide greater opportunities for public engagement. Strong local democracy depends upon transparency, accountability and meaningful participation by the communities councils are elected to serve.

The people of Tillicoultry have demonstrated extraordinary patience and resilience over almost three years. They deserve better than prolonged silence and uncertainty.

I hope you will now take the opportunity to demonstrate leadership by ensuring homeowners receive the timely information, meaningful engagement and respect they have sought throughout this difficult process.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Wilson Chowdhry

Chair

UK RAAC Campaign Group

Six More Months of Waiting: Why Clackmannanshire RAAC Homeowners Feel Betrayed

RAAC campaigners at Kilncraigs before a meeting with Housing Minister Mairi McAllan

Support our campaign crowdfund  (click here)  Or donate direct to the UK RAAC Campaign Group using these details: SC: 20-29-24 ACCT No: 03355349  

For almost three years, families affected by the RAAC crisis in Tillicoultry have lived in limbo. Unable to return to their homes, many have continued paying mortgages, insurance premiums and other household costs while waiting for Clackmannanshire Council to reach decisions that would allow them to move on with their lives.

The latest correspondence from Clackmannanshire Council's Leader, Councillor Ellen Forson, has only deepened homeowners' frustration.

"Only Six Working Days"

In her email of 7 July 2026, Councillor Forson apologised if communication had "fallen short" of expectations before stating that only six working days had elapsed since she had acknowledged an email from fellow homeowner Fran.

Technically, this may be true if weekends are excluded.

However, it does not reflect the reality experienced by homeowners.

Fran first contacted Councillor Forson on 24 June and received an acknowledgement on 25 June. No substantive update was provided until 7 July—almost two weeks later.

More importantly, this issue did not begin in late June.

For months beforehand, every councillor had received correspondence outlining homeowners' concerns via Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group and spokesperson for Tillicoultry RAAC Homeowners. Local media had also been copied into those communications to ensure there was a transparent public record of the issues being raised.

As spokesperson for the affected homeowners, Mr Chowdhry made it clear that councillors could contact me at any stage with updates or clarification. Despite this, no elected member provided any meaningful communication during the many months that followed the Housing Minister's meeting in November 2025.

When families have spent years waiting for answers, reducing their concerns to a calculation of "six working days" understandably feels dismissive.

A Timeline That Tells a Different Story

The Council's latest position also appears inconsistent with what homeowners have previously been told.

Councillor Forson stated that homeowners have had offers available for some time and that continued delays could jeopardise the planned remediation programme.

Yet this overlooks an important fact.

The Council itself suspended the original deadlines.

On 9 January 2026, after Wilson Chowdhry sought urgent clarification regarding the Council's stated deadline for accepting its offers, Andrew Buchanan, Interim Senior Manager for Housing, replied:

"Please consider the deadline as suspended with further information to follow as soon as we have it."

He explained that the Council was reviewing its offers while engaging with the Scottish Government following discussions with the Cabinet Secretary.

Homeowners accepted that explanation.

They waited.

Six months later, the promised update has still not materialised.

The Questions That Remain Unanswered

During this prolonged period of uncertainty, homeowners have continued waiting for several pieces of vital information.

These include:

• confirmation of revised purchase offers;
• confirmation of the VAT liability attached to remediation works—information homeowners have requested for well over a year;
• clarification regarding potential environmental retrofit funding mentioned by Council officers;
• details of any additional financial support the Council was considering.

Meanwhile, homeowners have continued paying mortgages, insurance and other unavoidable costs despite being unable to occupy their own properties.

Every additional month has imposed a further financial burden.

What Was Actually Discussed With the Scottish Government?

Perhaps the greatest source of frustration concerns expectations created following meetings with the Scottish Government.

There now appears to be a misunderstanding regarding the purpose of the funding secured under the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

Homeowners never believed this grant would be distributed directly to individual residents.

That was never the proposal.

Instead, discussions with the Housing Minister and later with officials from the Scottish Government's Better Homes Division centred on expediting funding for the Council's remediation programme.

The understanding communicated to homeowners was that once this funding had been secured, the Council would explore using its own resources to provide an additional fixed payment to affected homeowners, recognising the significant losses they had suffered.

Council officers repeatedly reinforced this expectation.

As recently as March 2026, homeowners were informed by senior officers that, depending on the level of Scottish Government funding secured, the Council was considering an additional fixed payment of between £10,000 and £15,000 per homeowner.

That was never presented as Scottish Government money.

It was discussed as a potential Council contribution made possible because Government funding would reduce the Council's own financial burden.

The Council's latest correspondence appears to abandon that position entirely.

Six More Months of Financial Hardship

The greatest injustice is not simply the lack of communication.

It is the financial impact of the delay.

Many homeowners have continued paying mortgages on homes they cannot live in.

They have maintained insurance policies, paid standing charges and absorbed countless other costs while waiting for the Council to conclude discussions that it repeatedly assured them were ongoing.

Those six additional months cannot be ignored.

Had the Council reached its decision sooner, homeowners could have made informed choices about their futures instead of continuing to shoulder substantial financial liabilities.

A Fair and Modest Request

Despite everything that has happened, homeowners are not asking for extraordinary compensation.

We continue to ask Clackmannanshire Council to consider providing a fixed payment of £5,000 to each affected homeowner.

For many families, this would simply clear the remaining balance on their mortgages.

More importantly, it would represent recognition that homeowners have carried the financial consequences of prolonged delays that were outside their control.

It would acknowledge the months spent waiting in good faith while the Council pursued discussions with the Scottish Government and considered its own options.

Looking Ahead

Councillor Forson has indicated that a meeting between homeowners, elected members and senior officers will now be arranged.

This meeting is overdue.

Homeowners deserve clear answers about why promised updates never arrived, why key financial information remains outstanding, why expectations regarding additional assistance have changed so dramatically, and how the Council intends to restore confidence after years of uncertainty.

Above all, they deserve honesty.

The RAAC crisis has never been solely about defective concrete.

It has become a test of whether public bodies will communicate openly, honour the expectations they create and recognise the human cost of prolonged uncertainty.

After years of waiting, the residents of Tillicoultry deserve nothing less.

Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said:

"For almost three years, these homeowners have shown extraordinary patience and acted in good faith. They accepted repeated requests to wait while the Council negotiated with the Scottish Government and reviewed its options. During that time, they have continued paying mortgages, insurance and other unavoidable costs on homes they cannot safely occupy. It is deeply disappointing that, after six further months of uncertainty, they are now being told that the additional support they were led to believe was being explored has simply disappeared. These families are not asking for special treatment—they are asking for fairness, transparency and recognition of the financial hardship they have endured. A modest £5,000 payment would not erase their losses, but it would acknowledge the burden they have carried while waiting for decisions that were entirely outside their control. The Council now has an opportunity to rebuild trust by listening to homeowners, honouring the expectations it created and delivering a fair outcome for those who have waited far too long."

The RAAC crisis is not just about concrete—it is about accountability.

And we are far from finished.

JOIN OUR 'UK RAAC CAMPAIGN GROUP' FB PAGE (HERE)

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION  (CLICK HERE), 

📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry

#RAACScandal #Petition2113 #ScottishParliament #SupportRAACVictims #EndTheSilence 

Housing Secretary Urged to Act as RAAC Homeowners Raise Concerns Over Council Silence, First-Time Buyer Support and Public Participation

Tillicoultry RAAC Homeowners at a protest outside Kilncraigs.

Support our campaign crowdfund  (click here)  Or donate direct to the UK RAAC Campaign Group using these details: SC: 20-29-24 ACCT No: 03355349  

The UK RAAC Campaign Group has today written an open letter to the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing, Shirley-Anne Somerville, urging her to become more actively involved in resolving the long-running RAAC crisis affecting homeowners in Tillicoultry.

The letter follows weeks of frustration after Clackmannanshire Council confirmed that Scottish Government funding has been secured to remediate the RAAC-affected homes once they have been acquired through the council's voluntary acquisition process.

While homeowners welcomed confirmation that funding had finally been obtained, they say many critical questions remain unanswered.

Residents still do not know the size of the proposed fixed payment that is expected to accompany the voluntary acquisition offers—a payment made possible through grant funding secured by Clackmannanshire Council in partnership with the Scottish Government. Without that information, many homeowners remain unable to make informed decisions about whether to sell now or continue waiting.

For families who have already spent almost three years living away from their homes while continuing to pay mortgages, insurance premiums and other associated costs, every further delay carries a significant financial and emotional cost.

Following confirmation of the funding, Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, wrote to Kevin Wells, Strategic Director – Place at Clackmannanshire Council, seeking clarification on a number of important issues.

These included guarantees that homeowners who sell now will not be disadvantaged if larger payments are agreed later, assurances that all homeowners will ultimately receive equitable settlements, and clarification regarding any potential tax consequences if additional payments are made after property sales have completed.

To date, no response has been received.

The lack of communication has also prompted concern amongst local elected members.

Councillors William Keough and Ellen Forson have separately written to Mr Wells requesting an update on behalf of affected residents. More than a week later, homeowners understand that neither councillor has received a response.

This continuing silence appears increasingly difficult to reconcile with guidance previously issued by the Scottish Government itself.

In correspondence dated 5 June, Shirley-Anne Somerville advised that:

"The Scottish Government expects local authorities to engage with homeowners and tenants affected by RAAC on a regular basis. This includes keeping them informed of progress, and offering them clear and timely information and advice appropriate to their individual circumstances."

The open letter asks the Cabinet Secretary to consider whether those expectations are currently being met.

It also calls on her to help facilitate improved engagement between Clackmannanshire Council and homeowners, who increasingly feel they have exhausted every avenue available to obtain answers.

The letter goes on to raise concerns about the Scottish Government's recently announced First Homes Fund.

While welcoming support for first-time buyers, campaigners argue that homeowners forced from their properties because of recognised construction defects such as RAAC should also receive assistance.

Many Tillicoultry residents now face re-entering the housing market with substantially reduced equity because the value of their homes has been severely diminished by the discovery of RAAC. Campaigners believe these homeowners are effectively being forced to begin again through circumstances entirely beyond their control.

The letter therefore asks the Scottish Government to consider extending eligibility for the First Homes Fund—or introducing equivalent assistance—to homeowners displaced by recognised structural defects.

It also reminds the Cabinet Secretary that her predecessor, Mairi McAllan, had indicated she would explore whether the UK Government could restore first-time buyer status, or equivalent support, for homeowners who lose their homes because of defects such as RAAC. Campaigners say homeowners never received any update on those discussions and believe both the Scottish and UK Governments should continue exploring solutions.

Wilson Chowdhry said:

"Homeowners have done everything the Scottish Government asked them to do. We engaged with the council, we participated in meetings, we waited patiently for funding decisions, and we continue to seek answers through the proper channels. Yet almost three years on, families are still waiting for basic information that will determine some of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.

"The Scottish Government has made clear that local authorities should provide regular, timely and meaningful communication. Unfortunately, that is not the experience of many homeowners today. We are simply asking the Cabinet Secretary to ensure that the standards her Government expects are actually being delivered.

"At the same time, the launch of the First Homes Fund presents an opportunity to recognise that RAAC homeowners are not ordinary home movers. They are people who have effectively lost their homes because of a construction defect. They deserve support to rebuild their lives and re-enter the housing market with dignity."

For homeowners who have endured years of uncertainty, the hope is that renewed involvement from the Scottish Government will finally help break the current impasse and bring the long-running RAAC crisis closer to a fair conclusion.

Calls for Greater Public Participation in Local Decision-Making

The open letter also raises wider concerns about democratic accountability within local government.

While much of the correspondence focuses on the council's lack of communication with homeowners, campaigners argue that the difficulties experienced throughout the RAAC crisis have also exposed weaknesses in how residents can participate in local decision-making.

Wilson Chowdhry notes that Clackmannanshire Council does not permit members of the public to present deputations or ask questions directly at council meetings. He also argues that the council's petition process is lengthy and procedurally complex, creating significant barriers for ordinary residents seeking to raise matters of public concern.

He believes these arrangements have contributed to homeowners feeling excluded from decisions that have fundamentally altered their lives.

The letter also asks Shirley-Anne Somerville to reflect on the work undertaken during her previous role as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Local Government and Housing, when the Scottish Government reviewed how public participation in local democracy could be strengthened. It asks whether she can advise how the findings and recommendations arising from that work are intended to improve situations such as that experienced by Tillicoultry homeowners, who have found themselves with few meaningful opportunities to influence decisions that have fundamentally affected their lives. It also requests that, if the matter no longer falls within her ministerial remit, she raises these concerns with her successor responsible for local government to ensure that the lessons from the RAAC crisis help inform future reforms to public participation and local democratic accountability.

Campaigners hope the lessons learned from the Tillicoultry RAAC crisis can help inform future reforms, ensuring that communities affected by major local decisions have meaningful opportunities to engage directly with elected members and senior officers before decisions are made, rather than simply being informed after the fact.

Mr Chowdhry said:

"One of the biggest lessons from the RAAC crisis is that meaningful public participation cannot be treated as an optional extra. When families are facing the loss of their homes, they should be able to speak directly to those making the decisions, ask questions in public, and have confidence that their voices are genuinely influencing the outcome. Transparency and accountability are strengthened when residents are treated as partners in the process rather than spectators."

 The RAAC crisis is not just about concrete—it is about accountability.

And we are far from finished.

JOIN OUR 'UK RAAC CAMPAIGN GROUP' FB PAGE (HERE)

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION  (CLICK HERE), 

📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry

#RAACScandal #Petition2113 #ScottishParliament #SupportRAACVictims #EndTheSilence