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The Courier
10-08-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: Dundee council leader admits communication with Raac residents must improve
The leader of Dundee City Council admits communication must improve with Raac residents after a controversial £500,000 pilot scheme began without consultation. Mark Flynn told The Courier that messaging around the project had not been 'ideally' handled after homeowners were hit with unexpected bills nearing £7,000. Menzieshill residents were given only a few days' notice that the scheme would begin on their properties after Dundee City Council sent out letters addressed to 'the owner'. Campaigners believe the pilot scheme itself is flawed as it doesn't remove the defective concrete, instead putting in support structures underneath it. Speaking exclusively to The Courier, Mr Flynn said: 'The pilot scheme wasn't put across, I would say, ideally, that's for sure, and that's been noted. 'I think it's important that we actually make sure we're communicating better going forward. 'I think it's important that we have that dialogue in advance of anything happening. 'Making sure everyone is aware of what's happening and why, and I think that's a really important part of this.' Mr Flynn's comments come amid tensions over a disputed Scottish Government meeting minute which claimed council chief executive Greg Colgan directed his officers not to proactively engage with Raac-affected residents to 'limit liability'. Mr Colgan has emphatically denied that any such approach has been taken. Mr Flynn was not present at the meeting in question and could not comment on the veracity of the minutes. However, the council leader assured Raac residents they could get in touch with himself or other councillors with any concerns or issues they have. 'I've said to my colleagues in the chamber, the 29 of us, that my door is always open,' said the council leader. 'And it's always open to people who have issues like this. 'Whether you talk to the housing convener and deputy convener, or you come straight to myself, I'm more than happy. 'I'm here to represent the people of the city and I'm here to listen as well.' The council leader has recently contacted the Dundee Raac Campaign Group to try and organise a meeting. However, he remains certain that any long-term financial solution to solving the crisis must come from the government. 'I've got in touch recently, in the last few days, with the Raac group, to invite them in to have a conversation about the difficulties they're having but also a solution to what we can achieve and what we can do locally,' said Mr Flynn. 'But the bigger picture is the UK Government and the Scottish Government have got to do this.' Through our Trapped By Raac campaign, The Courier is calling for all levels of government to come together and help find a solution for homeowner and tenants living with the defective concrete.
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Gorleston maternity ward relocated for Raac improvements
A maternity ward has temporarily moved while construction work is carried out to make safe a roof containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac). For the next four months, maternity services at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, will still remain on the first floor of the hospital and be closer to theatres and the neonatal work includes ensuring concrete roof panels remain safe by installing end bearing supports. Mark Flynn, strategic projects manager at the James Paget Hospital, said: "We are well into our Raac works at the moment... we have done several wards already." Work on a new hospital is due to begin between 2027 and 2028. 'Safety first' Mr Flynn said that while moving wards could be "logistically challenging", the units have been relocated one by one. He said the planned work was identified three to four years ago and the hospital was now halfway through the programme. "Our building was slightly later than some of the hospitals affected by Raac," he said."We did have some props in the early days but I am pleased to say we no longer require those."We have completed some of the non-patient facing areas first... to make sure we can put safety first. "We are doing what we can but we recognise the limitations of Raac and are really looking forward to our new hospital in the future - which is something we are making great progress on." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
