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On 17th June, the Welsh Government issued a long-awaited response to the UK RAAC Campaign Group’s multiple letters regarding the alarming situation facing homeowners in Hirwaun, where properties are blighted by dangerous RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete). Read full response (here)
Unfortunately, the letter from Richard Baker, Deputy Director of the Place Division, reveals a troubling complacency that continues to fuel anxiety among affected residents. While Welsh Government representatives offer polite words and a summary of existing schemes, they entirely fail to address the crux of our concerns: the current system is broken, and families are being left behind.
Unfit Financial Support Leaves Homeowners Abandoned
We are told that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, using Welsh Government funding, is offering a £6,500 grant alongside an interest-free loan. However, this assistance is riddled with restrictive conditions. Many of the affected homeowners are elderly, vulnerable, or on low incomes. The majority will not meet eligibility criteria, nor can they afford repayments—even without interest. What is offered is not real support; it is a hollow gesture that leaves most with no viable option for making their homes safe.
This is not just about crumbling concrete—it is about shattered lives and mental health trauma. People are living in fear, trapped in properties they cannot sell, fix, or safely inhabit.
Public Inquiry Rejected Despite Serious Oversight
One of our most urgent calls was for a Public Inquiry into the historic use of RAAC in public and private housing. Welsh Government's dismissal of this request is deeply disappointing. They argue that “much is already known” about RAAC and suggest an inquiry would uncover little new.
But this completely ignores our core concern: the issue is not just about the material—it is about the process. How did this happen? Who failed to act when signs of risk were clear? Were there failures in regulation, inspection, and communication? Have conflicts of interest or even corruption played a role in this national scandal?
Only a Public Inquiry can provide the transparency, accountability, and justice that Welsh homeowners deserve.
High-Risk Property Register: “Too Hard, Too Expensive”?
Perhaps the most shocking revelation in the Welsh Government’s reply is their refusal to establish a register of high-risk properties. The reason? It would require “significant resources.”
This is unacceptable. The very point of government is to protect its citizens, especially when their safety is at stake. The idea that cost and complexity outweigh the value of a proactive safety database is short-sighted and negligent. A register is not a luxury—it is a basic tool for monitoring public risk, guiding remediation, and preventing further tragedy.
The lack of such a register leaves countless families in the dark, uncertain if their homes—or those of their neighbours—pose hidden dangers.
Playing Catch-Up Instead of Leading
Perhaps most worrying is the Welsh Government’s evident preference to wait for action from the UK Government or for England to legislate first before taking bold steps of their own. This passive approach is neither innovative nor responsible. Wales has the power and the moral duty to lead when it comes to housing safety. It should not sit idle until Westminster acts.
We expected courage, leadership, and empathy. Instead, we have been met with bureaucracy, deflection, and delay.
Our Next Steps
The UK RAAC Campaign Group will not allow this issue to fade into silence. We are continuing to campaign nationally and locally for:
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A fully funded remediation scheme for all affected homeowners, without restrictive conditions.
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An independent Public Inquiry to examine not just the material failures of RAAC, but the institutional ones.
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A mandatory register of high-risk buildings, so that families are not left to guess whether their homes are safe.
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A more proactive and principled response from devolved governments, especially Wales, which must stop deferring responsibility.
The people of Hirwaun, and countless others across Wales, deserve better. It is time for the Welsh Government to take this crisis seriously—and act.
Continuing the Fight: Our Latest Response
In light of the Welsh Government’s disappointing reply, I have issued a further letter highlighting that the primary concerns raised in our original correspondence remain unanswered. I have reiterated that the current grants and loans are inaccessible to most affected homeowners due to strict eligibility conditions, and that this leaves families without options and overwhelmed by anxiety. I have also challenged the refusal to support a Public Inquiry, arguing that such a process would not only uncover safety defects but also shine a light on systemic failures and potential corruption—offering a strong justification for Welsh Government involvement. Until genuine action is taken, our campaign will continue pressing for justice, transparency, and lasting solutions.
If you're affected by RAAC or want to join our campaign, contact us at wilson@aasecurity.co.uk.
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