Tillicoultry residents displaced by RAAC gathered in protest on Friday, September 20th, outside the Clackmannanshire Council headquarters at Kilncraigs. Frustrated by their inability to return to their homes for nearly a year, over 20 homeowners demanded a meeting with council officials to discuss their future.
Leading the protest was Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, who has been advocating for the affected residents. The protestors' main goal was to secure a face-to-face meeting with the council to voice their concerns and seek clarity on the fate of their homes. Despite being evacuated last September, these residents have been left in limbo, with their homes deemed unsafe due to the presence of RAAC.
Chowdhry emphasized the hardship the residents have faced, stating, "These homeowners have seen their hard-earned properties taken from them due to RAAC. After years of working to secure a place to call their own, they now find themselves effectively homeless."
The protest was organized following the last-minute cancellation by Mr. Kevin Wells the newly appointed Strategic Officer - Place of a scheduled meeting with council representatives. Chowdhry, in a letter to council officials, pointed out that the residents had been invited to the meeting to discuss a briefing paper and other key issues, including an on-line petition and accompanied re-entry into their evacuated properties.
Chowdhry provided evidence of communication with council officer Wilson Lees, highlighting that the agenda included discussions on re-entry to their homes and that both he and the homeowners were clear on what was to be covered at the meeting. In his letter, he wrote:
"There was no confusion between the residents and Mr. Lees in our WhatsApp communications. The confusion seems to have occurred on your end."
The unilateral cancellation one day before the meeting which had been planned for months left many residents feeling silenced. Brian Leishman, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, who also attended the protest, expressed his frustration, saying, "The last-minute cancellation of today's meeting is another example of the poor treatment RAAC-impacted residents have been subjected to. These individuals haven't had a place to call home for nearly a year – the least they deserve is a platform to share their concerns."
Protestors chanted, "Who do we want? Kevin Wells! When do we want him? Now!" and "Stop the RAAC, don't let it crack!" as they engaged with passersby, sharing details of their campaign and petitions.
Protestors are also demanding that, should their homes be sold, they receive pre-RAAC valuations, a point echoed by Chowdhry during the demonstration. A briefing note had been delivered to residents the previous week outlining three possible outcomes: repair, demolition, or compulsory purchase orders. Chowdhry reiterated that residents had initially been informed by Wilson Lees that pre-RAAC valuations would be considered, but this has not been uniformly accepted by council members.
In response to the council’s actions, Chowdhry said, "This cancellation is a blatant attempt to silence the voices of affected homeowners and undermine the democratic process. It's disgraceful for any council to treat its residents with such disregard, and the leadership of Clackmannanshire Council should be deeply ashamed of their actions."
Residents are now pursuing formal complaints against the council, seeking redress for the abrupt meeting cancellation and their ongoing displacement.
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