Edinburgh, Scotland – November 24, 2024: Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, has issued a strongly worded open letter to First Minister John Swinney, calling out the Scottish Government’s inadequate response to the ongoing crisis faced by homeowners affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). The letter, prompted by Mr. Swinney’s recent public statements during St Andrews Day, on creating an environment for all Scots to thrive, was sent via email today and will be hand-delivered to St. Andrew’s House and the Scottish Parliament by campaigner Kerry Mackintosh on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
The letter highlights the disparity between the First Minister’s vision of a “bottom-up” governance approach and the lived reality of thousands of Scottish families whose homes, built with the now-dangerous RAAC material, have become financial and safety liabilities.
“The Scottish Government’s failure to act decisively has left these families in mortgage prisons, unable to access meaningful assistance,” writes Chowdhry. “While councils offer inadequate solutions like voluntary agreements or compulsory purchase orders, these families continue to suffer under crushing debt, lost belongings, and the looming threat of homelessness.”
The issue gained renewed attention after the Scottish Parliament’s Petitions Committee reviewed a petition by Wilson Chowdhry and his daughter earlier this month. Despite commitments to explore expert advice and government engagement, the homeowners are yet to see a clear path to remediation.
Chowdhry urges Mr. Swinney to utilize the £3.4 billion budget recently allocated by the UK Chancellor to establish a national fund for RAAC-affected homeowners, akin to funds created for cladding and flood victims. He also calls for a direct meeting with the First Minister, offering to introduce impacted homeowners who can share their personal accounts of financial despair and systemic neglect.
In a powerful closing statement, Chowdhry writes:
“The words ‘creating an environment for every person in Scotland to thrive’ must go beyond political rhetoric and be reflected in meaningful action. These homeowners, who have been failed by the system, deserve nothing less.”
The delivery of the letter marks another pivotal moment in the campaign to secure justice for RAAC homeowners. Campaigner Kerry Mackintosh personally delivered copies of the letter to St. Andrew’s House and the Scottish Parliament, ensuring that the message cannot be ignored. Kerry Mackintosh, said:
"It's not enough for John Swinney to grandstand with promises of fairness and prosperity while RAAC homeowners remain ignored. His words about 'starting from the bottom up' mean nothing until he addresses the plight of those left in limbo by this crisis. We need action, not empty rhetoric."
The UK RAAC Campaign Group continues to advocate for affected families across Scotland and the UK, urging policymakers to take immediate action and provide the support necessary to rebuild lives shattered by the RAAC crisis.
A full transcript of Mr Chowdhry's letter can be read (here).
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