Latest news with #Raac-related
The Courier
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
New roofs plan for 25 Angus Council houses affected by Raac
Angus Council is considering replacing the roofs on 25 Raac-affected homes in Monifieth. But the authority has ruled out the compulsory purchase of almost 50 privately owned houses in the town's Milton Street. And the potential cost of removing and replacing the potentially dangerous panels is being kept secret. The council properties are the only ones in the authority's stock of 7,700 homes to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac). It was discovered during an inspection in 2023 after concerns emerged nationwide around the risk of Raac to homeowners. An options report will go before a special meeting of the full Angus Council next week. It had been due to be considered behind closed doors on Tuesday. The decision to discuss the plans in secret was described by Milton Street resident Williamina Rylance as 'shocking'. The 59-year-old says the Raac situation has left her too worried to let her grandchildren visit. The Raac discussion was delayed by a change in the council administration after the minority SNP administration was dumped from power. Angus infrastructure director Graeme Dailly reveals five options were considered for the Milton Street council houses. These were: Mr Dailly said the new flat roof option scored 'significantly higher' than the other appraisal options. 'This would completely remove the risks associated with Raac and create a new roof insulated to current standards and with a new finish which could last for c.40 years,' he said. Mr Dailly has promised council tenants will receive 'one-on-one meetings, clear communication and regular updates'. The Monifieth development was completed in 1966. The plan will also involve talks with neighbouring private owners. Letters were previously sent to private householders advising them to seek advice on the potential presence of Raac. Their properties were sold under right to buy, either by Dundee District Council prior to reorganisation in 1996, or Angus Council. Mr Dailly confirmed a letter which has already gone out to Milton Street residents had informed them the compulsory purchase of privately owned homes is not being explored. 'We understand the uncertainty and concern for those affected,' he said. 'We are committed to keeping residents fully informed and supported throughout as we work towards a solution.' However, the cost of the replacement roofs for the council housing is being kept secret. It is contained in a private report to be considered alongside the options appraisal on Thursday May 8. Mr Dailly adds: 'It should be noted that there is currently no specific budget identified for Raac-related works. 'As of March 2025, there has been no funding identified by the Scottish Government to support such work.' The Courier has launched our Trapped by Raac campaign to help those affected by the burgeoning crisis and have the issue debated by government. We're asking readers to sign this petition to give them a voice and get the issue to parliament.
Press and Journal
29-04-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
Scott Begbie: Stop finger pointing and get round a table to help those affected by Torry Raac crisis
Imagine losing your home and possibly your lifesavings in one brutal swoop through no fault of your own, just the stroke of a pen from a bureaucrat. Just consider the sense of hopelessness and despair at having someone else make a decision that will change your life forever and there's nothing you can do about it. For some desperate folk in Torry, that's not a hypothetical scenario but the reality they are living since Aberdeen City Council decided there was no choice but to run a wrecking ball through their Raac-riddled homes, despite the desperate pleas of the folk who lived there. These are the people who face not only being forced out of a home they called their own but also being offered a desultory price for it – reported to be up to £55,000 less than their house was valued before Raac was found. The grim toll on their health and well-being has now been laid bare by Torry GP Dr Adrian Crofton who has passionately laid out the the 'unremitting and inescapable' stress patients are facing because of Raac-related issues. He has told of recurring themes from Raac-victims as they seek medical help – betrayal, uncertainty, powerlessness, injustice, financial fears and regret they have little to leave their children. And Dr Crofton raises one question that needs to be answered – why was there no health impact assessment as part of the options for fixing or demolishing? Didn't anyone in the corridors of power consider the well-being of those who live in those houses, or the wider community of having a whole neighbourhood gutted? And that raises, yet again, the spectre of those in power making decisions without closely looking at the way those choices will impact ordinary people – see also the city centre bus gates. It wouldn't be so bad if there was an overarching sense of a council that truly cares but has to make the tough call for the better good, doing so with full empathy and understanding of the ramifications of what they are doing. But families affected have spoken of councillors scrolling through their iPhones or eating sweeties even as the vote destroys homes and futures. Raac-affected pensioner, George McDonald summed it up best when he said: 'There's been no compassion or empathy throughout this whole process.' All the people of Torry want now is to be treated fairly and with dignity, not to be just shrugged off as collateral damage in what is a national scandal. Instead, they have different levels of government each saying it is the others' responsibility in a sickening display of sloping shoulders, while ordinary folk have to be prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping pills. There is a simple fix to this – one that the P&J's Trapped By Raac campaign has put front and centre. Westminster, Holyrood and local authorities need to stop the finger-pointing, put an end to playing a game of 'pass-the-blame', and get around a table to find a way to help Raac-victims put their lives – and health – back on a firm and fair footing. Scott Begbie is a journalist and editor, as well as PR and comms manager for Aberdeen Inspired.
Press and Journal
28-04-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
'Sleeping pills, anti-depressants and inescapable anxiety': 'Grim' Raac health toll revealed by Torry doctor
An Aberdeen doctor has revealed the horrifying health toll the Raac crisis is having on his patients. Adrian Crofton, lead clinician of Torry Medical Practice, spoke candidly to The Press and Journal as part of our Trapped by Raac campaign. While maintaining patient confidentiality, he revealed: 'I think it's fair to say that this [Raac crisis] has had a far worse impact on health than was ever anticipated,' said Dr Crofton. 'The real question is, why wasn't it anticipated?' Torry Medical Practice is the largest primary care provider in Torry, treating more than 7,000 people. Since news broke that 504 households in his area were affected by Raac, the medical practice has reported scores of individuals needing additional medical support. 'We have now implemented a code so we can track the people who have a health issue as a direct result of Raac. 'This isn't for people who, say, have a pre-existing condition and live in a Raac house. 'This is about people who now have a health issue that we are actively treating because of the Raac crisis.' At time of writing Dr Crofton confirmed that there are 60 people on the practice books known to have a Raac-related health issue. 'That doesn't tell the whole story. Even with that number, each of those people will have families impacted, either by the same set of issues or with the fact a relative is needing medical help or isn't coping. 'We went to the council a year ago about this. Even at an early stage, the health impacts were staggering.' Describing the stress his patients are under as 'unremitting' and 'inescapable,' he confirmed that medication to help aid sleep and antidepressant pills are being prescribed. 'We are prescribing sedatives, sleeping medications and antidepressants to people who would not otherwise have needed these. 'And these are not medications we use needlessly. 'There are quite considerable levels of distress arising from this process. Themes that come through constantly are betrayal, uncertainty, powerlessness, injustice, loss of community, financial fears, and regret that they can no longer leave much to their children. 'There's a lot of anger. 'We stick to prescribing guidelines when it comes to these medications but we are often left with very little choice.' As well as the mental and psychological effects of the crisis, now nearly 18 months on from the first notice that Raac could be in the Balnagask homes, there are physical implications too. 'The effects of stress on physical and mental health are intertwined. 'There are very well-established links between heart disease and long-term stress. 'It's the duration of this that's most troublesome. This is long-term, sustained pressure that these people can't escape from. There's no holiday they can take, or rest they can have from this.' Dr Crofton has also seen patients revert to alcohol as a means to aid sleep or 'forget' the situation. 'We know that being under stress can make you relapse. You'll see… well, we are seeing, people slipping back into the things they had become free from. 'It's common in consultations to hear of people reaching for a drink to help them sleep. 'Excess mortality from alcohol is already a problem. We have some very young people with seriously advanced alcohol issues.' Families worrying about their relatives and their children is also taking a toll, he says. 'In conversation with young mums, they worry about two things. They are really concerned about empty houses in terms of how safe or unsafe it is for their kids. Many worry about letting their children out to play anymore. 'And they worry about the friendship groups, or lack of them, because most [of their children's friends] aren't there anymore. They've moved. 'For lots of people directly impacted by Raac, their family units have been broken down as well. You pull on that thread and you get the story of a family who were only in that [Raac] house because they moved to be nearer someone they were looking after. 'That led to local jobs and local schools for kids and now, as a result of being displaced or knowing they will need to move, all that's up in the air. They need to travel to work, childcare is gone, and the children have been disrupted. Social care costs will increase too. 'I really don't think they estimated or had any imaginative attempt to consider these effects when they were considering options.' Dr Crofton says Torry Medical Practice was never approached by Aberdeen City Council, as part of the options appraisal process, to provide any information on health ramifications. 'I attended meetings at the time, and looked at the correspondence. Nobody came to us to ask what we thought the effects of this would be. 'In fact, we had to go to the council and say, by the way, health is an issue here.' In February and March 2024, Dr Crofton says Torry Medical Practice expressed its concerns to ACC. Firstly, they requested that patients would be able to move to new practices in a controlled manner so that care could be transferred safely. Secondly, the displacement of 500 households could impact practice viability. While the housing department of ACC did supply the practice with detailed lists of numbers proposed to be moving, with approximate time frames, Dr Crofton claims no proper health impact assessment was done. 'To my knowledge there was no health impact assessment as part of the options appraisal. When they were deciding whether to fix the houses or demolish them, none of that, as far as I know, considered the health of those in the houses. 'It does feel reckless. How can you not have a careful, detailed health impact assessment as part of your options appraisal?' We took these claims to Aberdeen City Council. We asked whether health outcomes were taken into consideration during the appraisal process, if there were any detailed health assessments done, and if there were, we asked to see them. ACC was also asked if it wished to respond to an accusation of recklessness. An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: 'An integrated impact assessment was undertaken as options were explored. Discussions were undertaken at senior level with the Integrated Joint Board.' Dr Crofton continued: 'This isn't a party political statement. Most of the people I speak to seem to be happy with frontline workers who have dealt with them. But at a higher level, I see no reason to contradict the feelings my patients have of betrayal and abandonment. 'There's been appalling levels of snobbery too. Off the cuff comments – even from councillors – like 'why would you even want a house there?' 'From my perspective, as someone who knows these families, most of the time when you visit these homes you meet hardworking people, in well-maintained homes, who are good, good people. The cheap stereotyping does not help. 'The health and wellbeing of Torry people is suffering. It's pretty grim.' Regarding ongoing support, the council confirmed it continues to work with the community to engage with people in RAAC-affected properties through Housing Support Officers. Additionally, 'as part of that ongoing support, we have commissioned services from SAMH (Scotland Action for Mental Health). These are available to any resident or family member who feels affected by the issues in Balnagask.'
