
Dundee businesses back Raac campaign
Raac campaigners have enlisted the help of Dundee businesses to raise awareness of the crisis in the city.
Yvette Hoskins, Claire Neill and Margaret McLeod took to the streets on Wednesday afternoon with 100 posters designed and printed by The Courier.
The group visited outlets across the city centre, from pubs and butchers to record stores and newsagents, distributing the posters and speaking to business owners.
The campaign comes amid growing concern from residents who are living with the defective concrete.
Dundee has the most Raac-affected residential properties in Scotland, with almost 900 homes confirmed to contain the material.
Neighbouring Monifieth is also affected.
Yvette Hoskins, vice chairperson of the Dundee Raac Campaign Group, said: 'I need the community of Dundee to come together as a whole.
'To help support the residents whose homes are in a dangerous position to be in.
'To allow us to have a voice to take us to Westminster.
'We still have other areas to cover with the campaign posters.
'We have a great opportunity to try keep the campaign alive.
'We need to let the public and the communities know that Raac is so much bigger than people realise.'
Many business owners were more than happy to put campaign posters in their windows, expressing their concerns for the people affected by the issue.
The posters contain a QR code that directs people to sign a petition that will give campaigners a voice at Westminster.
Raac (Reinforced, Autoclaved, Aerated Concrete) is a cheaper alternative to concrete that was widely used to build homes between 1950s and 1990s.
The material, however, can pose significant structural issues.
It is especially dangerous when saturated by water, which further weakens the structure.
Campaigners are urging people to sign the petition to take the issue of Raac to Westminster in the hope serious action can be taken.
Tenants and homeowners with Raac feel trapped in the situation and are calling for the support of politicians, businesses and the wider community.
The Courier has launched our Trapped by Raac campaign to help those affected by the burgeoning crisis.
They need 10,000 people to sign this petition to give them a voice – so we're asking our readers to help them achieve that goal.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Courier
2 days ago
- The Courier
STEVE FINAN: Dundee homeowners deserve better than Raac fiasco
Imagine being a homeowner and a firm rolled up at your door and declared they were to attempt repairs on your home – whether you like it or not. The firm hadn't given an estimate, hadn't asked if the timing was convenient, hadn't said what guarantees were in place for a job that might not even be the best thing in the long run. And you might have to pay the bill for it. A bill you don't know the size of. Or the terms and conditions of. Or when you have to pay it by. Or the ramifications if you don't pay. I reckon most homeowners would tell them to go away – they'd probably use more robust language. If you're not a homeowner, imagine this concerned your car, or bike, or TV, or mobile phone. Is there anyone who thinks this is a proper way to tackle a problem? Dundee City Council said it will send a bill for Raac repairs after starting work on homeowners' flats in Cart Place. Without prior consultation. Now you may think people who have Raac in a property bought from the council have no one to blame. 'Buyer beware' is the phrase often used. I disagree. I don't believe anyone should be left with faulty goods through no fault of their own. I reckon a home should be of satisfactory quality and fit for its intended purpose. That means it must function, safely, for a reasonable length of time. And 'reasonable' for a home is several generations. If it doesn't, the seller (and that could be construed as the government) must remedy the problem. The same way a car will be recalled if it isn't safe, or a kettle with faulty wiring is repaired or replaced. This 'no consultation' fiasco comes down, yet again, to the single greatest failing of Dundee City Council. A failing that repeats itself multiple times in different ways – but that it never seems to learn from. Communications are woeful. They are silent on all issues. Why didn't they inform homeowners what was happening? Goodness knows what DCC's chai latte-sipping communications department does. It certainly isn't to communicate. It leaves our councillors looking like they are sitting in their comfy chairs in the city chambers saying nothing and doing nothing about a major issue. Again. By not communicating they look like they either don't know what's going on, or don't care. They are supposed to represent the people. I also find myself returning to Heather Anderson's declaration last month that she is to stand as an MSP. Heather, you identified Raac in homes as a 'priority' when asking for votes. No one forced you to say that. Cart Place is smack bang in the middle of the Dundee West constituency you want to represent. Are you treating this as a 'priority'? What is your opinion on the homeowners' plight? This is the sort of situation where ordinary people need politicians to fight for them. Communicate with your prospective constituents, Heather. How are you tackling your priority issue in this instance? As part of our Trapped By Raac campaign, The Courier is asking people to sign this petition to help give homeowners a voice.


The Courier
2 days ago
- The Courier
Parole case for Angus killer Tasmin Glass deferred as family brand failure to reach decision 'a nonsense'
A parole bid by Angus killer Tasmin Glass has been deferred after the board failed to reach a decision. Bill Donaldson, the father of Glass' victim Steven Donaldson, has called the outcome 'a nonsense'. The Donaldsons were notified just before 2pm on Wednesday that The Parole Board for Scotland were 'unable to conclude their decision' on the Kirriemuir killer's latest bid for freedom. It will now be around six to eight weeks before the case is considered again at an oral hearing. Glass was granted parole in July last year, halfway through her sentence for culpable homicide, but recalled to prison in April for breaking the conditions of her release. This is the third time a parole case involving Glass has been deferred. The board failed to reach a decision on two other occasions before her eventual release last July, leaving the Donaldson family in a state of limbo for months. The latest deferral has left Steven's family frustrated as they are forced to wait yet again to see if his killer will be released from jail. Steven's dad Bill told The Courier: 'This is nonsense. 'We have not been told why this has happened but we understand it's because today's hearing was purely procedural with neither Glass nor any witnesses present. 'We are aware that she could have requested to be at the hearing but that appears to have not happened. 'This means this is, yet again, going to drag on for us. 'We now have to go through the entire procedure yet again. 'We can take comfort from the fact she currently remains in prison but how much longer do we have to deal with this. 'Yet again Glass seems to be dictating terms.' The Kirriemuir killer was sent back to jail in April after breaking the conditions of her release just nine months after being granted freedom. Under law she must be considered for parole again 'immediately' after recall. The Donaldsons were notified of today's case a fortnight ago. Glass was jailed in 2019 after being convicted of culpable homicide for her 'pivotal role' in the murder of Steven Donaldson in Kirriemuir. Her co-accused, Steven Dickie and Callum Davidson, both received life sentences after being found guilty of murder. Dickie has since taken his own life in prison. In an interview with The Courier on the eve of the parole hearing, Bill Donaldson said he will never forgive Glass or the other killers. He told us: 'We will never forgive Tasmin Glass or the other killers for the brutal way in which they murdered our beloved son. 'What they did was horrific. The way they killed Steven doesn't bear thinking about. 'We, as a family, will never forgive what they did.' Through our A Voice for Victims campaign, The Courier has been working with families like the Donaldsons to bring reforms to the Scottish parole system. We want more transparency, better communication for victims and a rethink on automatic parole consideration for violent offenders halfway through their sentence.


Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
St Kentigern's Academy set to open new wing months ahead of schedule
St Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn is set to open its new wing months ahead of schedule after a £50m rebuild. More than 60% of the school – one of the largest in West Lothian- had to be demolished because of RAAC roofing panels. While councillors welcomed the fact that school will be completed by March, they voiced disappointment that the Scottish Government has yet to respond to pleas for £15m to help meet the costs. The Executive heard that the council has budget a loan could face paying an extra £15m interest on that sum. A report to the executive said: 'Discussions remain ongoing with the Scottish Government around funding support to deliver the works required at St Kentigern's Academy. To date, no funding support has been confirmed.' Depute Chief Executive for Education Dr Elaine Cook told the meeting: 'For the first year in a number of years, we will be able to have all our SQA exams within the school site.' Councillor Sally Pattle, Lib Dem, said: 'I really wanted to say a massive thank you from the outset, on behalf of councillors. Officers have kept us fully informed. They grasped the nettle in dealing with this situation.' 'Fingers crossed we get some money from the Scottish Government.' Depute SNP group leader Pauline Stafford echoed Councillor Pattle's thanks to officers and added 'A big thanks go to staff and students who have borne this really admirably. It has been a lot of upheaval.' Countering complaints that the Scottish Government had not responded to the council's plea for £15m costs Councillor Stafford said the council would be a better state if it had not had to pay £18m for PFI projects introduced by Labour. Conservative group leader, Damian Doran-Timson described that as 'defending the indefensible' and criticised millions of pounds 'wasted by the Scottish Government'. He added: 'The issue here is the Scottish Government not supporting the council. Shame on the Scottish Government for not stepping in.' Labour councillor Tom Conn said: 'I'd like to thank officers for dealing with RAAC throughout all our schools' estate. Not one penny has come from the Scottish Government to support this council. There's been criticism of the PFI which we are still paying off, but this is what we are going to have to do if we don't get this support- paying off on the never never.' A Scottish Government spokesperson defended its record on funding schools, pointing to almost £24m of funding through the Schools for the Future Programme, spent on building or extending schools in the county and also financial support given through the Learning Estate Investment Programme. The spokesperson added: 'The Scottish Government has been in regular contact with each local authority where RAAC has been identified in schools. 'The Education Secretary met with West Lothian Council and visited St Kentigern's Academy and was reassured on progress made by the council in dealing with RAAC identified in the school. 'National guidance has been available from the Institute of Structural Engineers to local authorities since March 2022. That guidance remains good practice for councils to adhere to and uses a risk-based approach to manage RAAC.' After the meeting Andrew McGuire the executive councillor for Education said: 'It's great to hear how much progress has been made in re-building a significant part of St. Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn. 'St Kentigern's is a large secondary school that provides education to many young people from towns and villages in the west of West Lothian. 'We can now look forward to the new building at St Kentigern's being opened in 2026, which will deliver huge benefits for pupils and staff. 'Thanks to everyone at the school and those involved in the project for their hard work to ensure a major construction project can be delivered quickly with minimal impact on education.' The new building will feature a reception area, spacious canteen and dining area, a four-court Games Hall, Dance Studio, Fitness Suite and a changing area. Additional facilities will include a performance area, a range of learning spaces, a café and nurture rooms, all designed to enhance the learning environment for all of the young people who attend the school. The work has been completed while the school is operational, with every effort made to keep disruption to a minimum for a project of this scale. A temporary 'Learning Village' has been put in place to support learning, with some PE lessons and SQA exams the only activities that required additional space off-site. By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related