Tillicoultry RAAC Families Seek MSP Support Amid Continuing Silence from Clackmannanshire Council
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3 Years After Evacuation, Families Still Have No Answers
For homeowners affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in Tillicoultry, the crisis did not end when they were forced from their homes.
It did not end when properties were boarded up.
It did not end when families lost access to possessions, memories and the homes they had worked a lifetime to secure.
And it certainly has not ended now.
Nearly two years after the evacuation of RAAC-affected properties, many homeowners remain trapped in uncertainty while awaiting the outcome of a Scottish Government grant funding application that could fundamentally determine their futures.
Yet despite repeated assurances that answers are imminent, residents continue to face delay after delay.
From Regular Communication to Prolonged Silence
Earlier this year, homeowners were receiving relatively regular updates regarding efforts to secure Government funding.
Then communication began to slow.
Emails went unanswered. Requests for information were met with holding responses. Promised updates failed to materialise.
Concern grew among residents that something was wrong.
Those fears intensified when Clackmannanshire Council recently confirmed that a meeting was being arranged to discuss the status of the grant funding application and its implications for homeowners.
Many hoped that meeting would finally provide clarity.
Instead, homeowners are still waiting.
Following the meeting, residents expected an update on Tuesday 2nd May 2026. Days later, none had arrived.
Another Delay — And Another Housing Crisis
When homeowners pressed for information, Clackmannanshire Council responded by explaining that senior officers were currently focused on responding to the ongoing housing emergency in Coalsnaughton.
In a message sent by Louise Hutcheon, Personal Assistant to the Director of Place and Economy, residents were informed that:
"Senior officers are currently fully engaged in responding to the ongoing major incident at Coalsnaughton. This has understandably impacted capacity and resulted in delays to progressing and communicating this matter as quickly as we would have liked."
No homeowner disputes the seriousness of the situation facing residents in Coalsnaughton.
They deserve support, compassion and swift action.
However, many Tillicoultry residents are asking an entirely reasonable question:
Why does every new housing emergency appear to push their own crisis further down the priority list?
After years of uncertainty, residents are not demanding final agreements or completed solutions.
They simply want to know whether the Scottish Government funding application has been approved, rejected or remains under consideration.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for homeowners to understand why even that basic information cannot be shared.
Families Trapped Between Impossible Choices
The significance of the funding decision cannot be overstated.
Some homeowners sold their properties to Clackmannanshire Council after being assured that any future Government funding would be reflected in revised settlements.
Others chose to retain ownership.
Many of those residents continue paying mortgages, insurance premiums and other costs on homes they cannot occupy. They have done so because they fear that if grant funding is not forthcoming, remediation of their homes may ultimately prove a better financial outcome than selling under current arrangements.
As a result, families remain trapped between difficult choices without the information needed to make informed decisions.
Every month that passes deepens the uncertainty.
Appeal to Mark Ruskell MSP
Against this backdrop, campaigners have written an open letter to Mark Ruskell following his comments during General Questions in the Scottish Parliament.
While questioning ministers about the Coalsnaughton evacuation, Mr Ruskell referenced the earlier RAAC evacuations in Clackmannanshire and said:
"The RAAC evacuations were badly handled by the council, houses were boarded up, personal possessions were left to rot for months on end."
He also highlighted the importance of addressing the trauma experienced by evacuees.
His comments struck a chord with many Tillicoultry homeowners who feel their experiences have too often been overlooked.
In the open letter, campaigners thanked Mr Ruskell for recognising the hardship residents endured, while urging him to raise the issue once again with both the Scottish Government and Clackmannanshire Council.
The letter asks whether he is aware that homeowners are still awaiting the outcome of the funding application and seeks his support in securing greater transparency, accountability and urgency.
While public acknowledgement is welcome, homeowners now need practical assistance to ensure their plight is not forgotten amid newer crises.
Fresh Call for a Homeowners' Meeting
Today, further correspondence was sent to Kevin Wells, Strategic Director – Place at Clackmannanshire Council, via his Personal Assistant, Louise Hutcheon. The communication was also copied to all local councillors, ensuring that elected representatives were made fully aware of the growing frustration and anxiety being experienced by affected homeowners.
The message expressed growing concern about the continued delays and the anxiety being experienced by affected residents.
It also highlighted the disappointment many homeowners feel that, after such a prolonged period of waiting, there is still no definitive answer regarding what should ultimately be a straightforward question: has the Scottish Government grant application been successful or not?
The correspondence recognised the seriousness of the Coalsnaughton emergency but warned that homeowners increasingly feel their own crisis is being overshadowed by newer events despite having lived with uncertainty for years.
A request was also made for a fresh meeting between homeowners, council officers and councillors, particularly those elected to represent the affected communities. Campaigners believe it is important that those elected to represent Tillicoultry residents are kept informed and encouraged to play an active role in securing answers and accountability for their constituents.
Such a meeting would allow residents to ask questions directly, receive updates and begin rebuilding confidence in a process that many feel has become increasingly opaque.
Trauma Does Not End With Evacuation
One of the most important observations made by Mark Ruskell MSP was that the trauma of evacuation extends beyond the day people leave their homes.
For Tillicoultry homeowners, that observation remains painfully true.
The boarded-up homes, the disrupted lives and the lost sense of security are only part of the story.
The continuing uncertainty is itself a form of harm.
Every delay prolongs the anxiety.
Every unanswered question deepens frustration.
Every postponed update leaves families wondering whether anyone truly understands the impact this crisis continues to have on their lives.
Time for Answers
Nobody expects Clackmannanshire Council to ignore the difficulties faced by Coalsnaughton residents.
But neither should another housing emergency become the reason why RAAC homeowners remain without answers.
The people affected by the Tillicoultry RAAC crisis have waited long enough.
If funding has been approved, homeowners deserve to know.
If funding has been refused, homeowners deserve to know.
If discussions are ongoing, homeowners deserve to know that too.
What they cannot continue to endure is a cycle of meetings followed by silence, promises followed by delays, and uncertainty without end.
The people of Tillicoultry have already paid a heavy price.
The least they deserve now is honesty, transparency and a clear path forward.
Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said:
"No homeowner begrudges support being provided to residents in Coalsnaughton. We all understand the distress they are experiencing. However, families affected by RAAC in Tillicoultry have now spent years living with uncertainty and deserve answers about their own futures. The ongoing delays are becoming increasingly difficult to understand and are causing significant anxiety amongst homeowners who simply want clarity about whether Government funding will be available or not."
Lynsey Macquater, Chair of the Tillicoultry RAAC Campaign Group, said:
"Residents have been remarkably patient throughout this process, but patience is becoming increasingly difficult when there appears to be no end to the uncertainty. Homeowners need transparency and meaningful communication. We are not asking for special treatment—we are simply asking for the information that will allow families to make informed decisions about their futures."
The RAAC crisis is not just about concrete—it is about accountability.
And we are far from finished.
📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry
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