Latest news with #Raac-riddled
Press and Journal
03-06-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Lindsay Bruce: Sheila McDonald's tragic death shines spotlight on reality of Torry Raac scandal
The reality and the why behind our Trapped by Raac campaign has hit home in recent weeks. We recently lost one of our campaign stalwarts. Sheila McDonald, previously featured alongside husband George in our coverage, suffered a heart attack and died in the home she's been fighting to save. The couple had just celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary and are among throngs of defiant homeowners standing their ground to get fair prices for their Raac-riddled homes. The retired pair have never missed a protest. They've attended every community meeting. Both George and Sheila's faces are even on our Trapped by Raac poster. They epitomise why we launched the campaign in the first place; Because every day, honest, hard-working people aren't able to enjoy their lives – or their retirements – while the injustice of Raac is quite literally hanging over their heads. So I felt it impossible to let her loss pass, without paying tribute to her, and to acknowledge the Sheila-shaped hole in her community. I dropped my phone when the text arrived from George to let me know Sheila had passed. Just days before, we carried a report from Torry doctor Adrian Crofton about the long-term impact stress is having on the hearts and minds of the good people of Balnagask. Less than a week earlier I saw Sheila at the White Cockade where I joked with her that she was 'Torry famous' when she held up a poster bearing her own image. And it wasn't even a fortnight since I'd sat in George and Sheila's living room listening to them speak about how they felt their fate had been decided by seemingly uncaring councillors, scrolling on their phones. Sheila told me that day that her blood pressure was 'through the roof'. No wonder, I thought. As news spread in Torry about Sheila's death at the start of May, I kept hearing the same remarks. 'She was so faithful to the Torry Community Raac Campaign.' The reality of that filled me with such sadness. The last 18 months of Sheila's life have been encased in Raac. 'I wish I'd never retired,' she told me, because she felt her beautiful home was no longer a place of peace. When we ask for signatures and support – this is why. The lived reality for the 500+ households in Balnagask who had the Raac crisis thrust upon them, is so far from peaceful. For many it's at times more of a living agony. Through no fault of their own. These are grandparents, aunts and uncles. They're mums and dads. They're someone's grown-up children, first-time buyers, newlyweds… They are grandchildren, widows, people with disabilities, single people, married, young, old, working and retired. All on the brink of losing it all. And so this week I want to make a call directly to those in decision-making positions. I've researched this issue. I know the history. I've witnessed the political to-ing and fro-ing, and I'm aware of the costs involved. I realise housing is devolved. And that the Raac homes were built before this current ACC administration. Honestly, if it's been written about Raac, I've probably read it. So I ask you, knowing all that, We NEED a collegiate response to this crisis. We NEED elected leaders to be both fair and compassionate. And we NEED those whose job it is to serve the people, to put those people first. As we gathered to celebrate the life of Sheila, It was clear her legacy will be as a wonderful mother, grandmother, wife and a friend. She'll also be remembered, and will be much-missed as a tireless campaigner for those Trapped by Raac. I wonder if the legacies of Aberdeen City Council, and our national and UK governments will be similar? It's not too late to collegiately, creatively and compassionately do the right thing. People before politics, please. You can read the family announcement here.
Press and Journal
11-05-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
ACC has acquired just 4 Raac houses so far: Meet one widow refusing to sell
It's not just homeowners who are Trapped by Raac… it seems Aberdeen City Council is also between Raac and a hard place. The local authority has revealed it has through its voluntary acquisition scheme. The Press and Journal has reported extensively that many of the homeowners have opted not to engage with the council scheme to buy back their homes, due to low offers and hopes of other solutions being offered. An ACC spokeswoman confirmed that of the 138 privately owned homes, only 13 owners have accepted offers, and to date, only four of those are in council ownership. This means that so far less than 9.5% of homeowners have accepted offers generated by the Valuation Office Agency, and less than 3% of privately owned Raac-riddled Balnagask homes have been acquired by ACC. 60-year-old widow Seiyefa Van Der Kist owns her own home on Pentland Crescent. She is one of the 97% still defiantly holding on to her home, refusing to engage with ACC. Seiyefa lives in one of the 500 Balnagask homes with roofs built using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (Raac). The cheap, bubbly concrete is now deemed unstable, and her home is to be demolished. 'Sometimes I just sit and cry my eyes out. 'I bought my house when my husband died. I put all the cash I had into it. Started doing it up and improving it. 'I feel I've let him down. I'm going to lose everything we worked for.' Former Rentokil operative Seiyefa moved to Torry from Stonehaven in 2012. A year earlier, the love of her life, husband Will Van Der Kist, died following a long battle with lung cancer. 'My husband worked in oil and gas and travelled all over the world. We had a lovely life together but cancer took that from us. 'He was just 60 when he passed away. I used the money he left me to buy my home. It's what he wanted me to do. Now I could lose it all.' To purchase her £108,000 three-bedroom Pentland Crescent 'hen house' Seiyefa used 'every penny' she had, to raise a deposit of £56,000. 'My late husband was very good with finances. We talked about what I should do with the money I would get when he passed. 'He wanted me to buy a home. 'I found a house I really liked in Torry, used all the money I had as a deposit, and bought my home. 'I still owe a substantial amount on my mortgage.' Speaking to The Press & Journal at a recent homeowners' meeting in The White Cockade pub, grandmother of two Seiyefa says she won't be engaging with Aberdeen City Council's Voluntary Acquisition scheme. 'I've heard of people being offered around £60,000 for similar homes. What will I do with that? Where can I go? Do they not know Aberdeen is an expensive city? 'I feel the council just wants us to take what they offer, and shut up. 'I'm not prepared to do that.' If today's Aberdeen City Council figures are correct, it seems she's not the only one. Just four of the 138 Raac-riddled private homes are now back in the hands of Aberdeen City Coucil. But for Seiyefa, it's not just about the money. 'I love where I live. I have great neighbours. When my husband died I came here and right away I found neighbours – like Roberta and her husband – who became like parents to me. 'They have loved me and looked after me. 'The thought of leaving Roberta makes me very sad.' Like many others Trapped by Raac, the process has also affected Seiyefa's health. 'I'm quite tired most of the time. I wake up at night – most nights – tossing and turning and then I can't get back to sleep. When I do drop off, I sleep late. 'I'm lucky because I can just about manage off my husband's pension. If I was working I'd have lost my job. 'It's just so worrying, all the time. 'It's the unknown that's killing me. I really think it's killing me.' For now, Seiyefa says she's grateful for 'small mercies.' 'I was about to pay for my bathroom to be done up and then I saw the news about Raac on TV. So I'm grateful for that. 'And I'm grateful for all the support people are showing us. We just need everyone to keep signing the petition and keep telling their stories. 'I can't let them take the last thing I have that reminds me of my late husband.' An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: 'We are committed to continuing to engage with all council tenants, owners and private tenants who have been affected by RAAC and keep them informed of any new updates. Anyone who is concerned about RAAC should read our Frequently Asked Questions online.'
Press and Journal
29-04-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Trapped by Raac: 'I promised dying mum I'd buy this house. The stress of that keeps me housebound'
Torry resident George Black is trapped inside his house because of Raac. Wishing to remain anonymous, we've changed his name and that of his family to protect his identity. His heartrending story of crippling anxiety and stress keeping him housebound – echoed many times over by Aberdeen homeowners in Raac-riddled homes – is too important not to share. George bought his three-bed Torry home with money he inherited from his late mum. Her deathbed wish was for widower George to rebuild his life by getting back on the property ladder. 'My wife died, and then my grown-up step-children all left home. I made a promise to mum as she lay dying, that the money she would leave me would go to me buying a house. She wanted me to start again. 'I did what I promised I'd do. Now it looks like I'll lose it all. 'I feel like I failed her. I can barely even leave my house anymore.' George bought his North Balnagask Road' hen house' in July 2019. Prior to that, he was renting a home near Pittodrie. 'I was widowed 10 years ago. My life took a sharp turn,' the 53-year-old civil servant said. 'Everything changed for me. I came back to Aberdeen from the north of Scotland. It's been incredibly difficult.' He paid for his Balnagask property. It's now valued at just since the discovery of Raac in his roof. 'In the wake of Anna's death I began struggling with depression and anxiety. 'When I first heard the news about Raac being in my house my mind went to a very dark place. 'When demolition was announced, it sent me into a tailspin.' The 'out of the blue' announcement concerning the possibility of more than 500 Balnagask homes containing Raac, came in February 2024. Here's a timeline of what we know about Raac and how it's impacted Aberdeen residents. 'It felt like the rug had been pulled from under me. What little control I got back in my life was ebbing away,' George said. 'For me, this house was such a good property. I have space to work from home, it's in a good location… it feels like even my senses have been taken from me, you know. Like, why didn't I know about the Raac? Why couldn't I have just chosen something better?' In truth, George couldn't have known. He bought the local authority-built home in good faith, and through no fault of his own has been plunged into hardship. He is trapped by Raac. And while letters have been sent from Aberdeen City Council to private tenants at intervals throughout the worsening crisis, George believes the scarcity of communication between ACC and homeowners hasn't helped ease worries. 'There are constantly rumours flying about. Whether it's about this being a land grab or about the houses being used for other purposes, it's not helped,' he said. Just last week Aberdeen City Council issued a statement addressing just one of many rumours circulating that empty Raac homes were being 'fixed-up' to house asylum seekers. The Council's response read: 'The UK Government has asked local authorities across the UK for suggested pilots for providing accommodation for asylum seekers. Aberdeen City Council, in response, is considering how vacant council homes, that are unlikely to return to housing stock, may be used with investment from the UK Government. 'As is known, the Raac affected properties within Balnagask include council homes that will not be returned for use. However, the Council also has wider stock across the city that may be considered with secured investment. 'The Council can confirm that the RAAC affected properties in Balnagask are not being considered and that no homes are being redecorated, renovated or being considered to home any individual or family.' George is now seriously considering accepting the low offer on his home. 'It's hard to know what to do. I feel like I've lost control and maybe accepting [the offer] is me taking it back. 'My reality is that I barely leave my house anymore. I've lost all sense of purpose and love for life. I've even given up volunteering. I get food delivered to my door. 'Coming out to speak to you is the one act of purpose I've had in a while. 'As much as I want to hold out, I also want to get away from here, and out of this situation, too. 'The streets used to be full of kids playing and the noise of families. Now it's teenagers on trail bikes tearing up the streets like nobody lives here.' For George, although moving – and losing out financially feels inevitable, he still wants those at all levels of government to take responsibility for the burgeoning crisis. It's why we are encouraging our readers to sign this petition. 'I don't think any of us [homeowners] have an issue with frontline people. 'It just feels like there's been a lack of respect for those actually going through this. We want accountability. 'This is no longer just an Aberdeen issue. It's in Dundee, and Stirling too. Somebody somewhere needs to accept responsibility. 'There was a fund established for cladding after Grenfell. We are in a similar boat. There are structural faults through no fault of our own.'
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
24-04-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
Torry Raac: 'They decided our fate while scrolling on their phones'
Torry couple George and Sheila McDonald should be spending their retirement enjoying holidays and a well-earned rest. Instead, both of them, at almost 70 years old, are attending protests and fearing for their future. The couple – through no fault of their own – are trapped by Raac. 'It's just not fair. We've worked all our lives and didn't imagine spending our retirement going through this.' This, as George mentions, is the uncertainty of living in a house now designated for demolition due to the discovery of unstable Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (Raac) in their roof. Bought from Aberdeen City Council under the right-to-buy scheme, it's just one of 504 homes to be razed to the ground. But unlike the 366 social housing properties, now largely vacated, George and Sheila's home is one of 138 houses privately owned. Former oil and gas worker George is Torry born and bred. He married Sheila, recently retired from her role in His Majesty's Theatre box office, 51 years ago. They've lived in their three-bed Pentland Crescent home for almost 40 years. Their children were raised in that home. They've built lifelong friendships from that home. And due to the presence of the dangerous concrete in their home, Aberdeen City Council now wants to buy it back at a reduced price so a huge swathe of Balnagask can be cleared of its Raac-riddled properties. 'I wish I'd never retired,' Sheila says. 'We have the financial worry hanging over us, but then the less I have to do the more the thought of what's going to happen to us eats me up.' Though George likes to keep himself busy walking his daughter's dog, the toll of the situation – now a year on for Aberdeen residents – is evident. 'Sheila's blood pressure is up. It's the first thing you think about every day,' he says. 'It's not easy, but we'll not be making it easy for the council either. We'll be riding this out as long as it takes. 'We've spent a lot of money on our house, we won't be giving it away at a fraction of the price it's worth.' The McDonalds, like the other private homeowners, were invited by ACC to enter into a voluntary process to have their homes valued. George and Sheila's immaculately decorated home has a beautifully cultivated back garden, and a view to the harbour from their 'upside down hen house'. Though a cohort of residents voted to 'freeze out' the local authority, a few homeowners took part in the process and shared their results. 'Some of the valuations we've heard of have been anything but fair,' Sheila adds. In February, we reported owners of flats being offered as little as £20,000 for their homes and family homes for as little as £68,000. The Torry Community Raac Campaign said some offers they knew of were between £35,000 and £55,000 less than what homes were valued at before the news broke of Raac in the properties. 'We heard of someone in a similar house to ours getting 60-something for theirs. What would be do with that? 'Where are we going to go in Aberdeen for that? 'Well I'll tell you what, I want be moving into a flat. And I certainly won't be paying rent to Aberdeen City Council for the privilege,' Sheila added. For George, it's the injustice of the situation – and a perceived lack of care – that most upsets him. 'There's been no compassion or empathy throughout this whole process,' says George. 'I was at the council meeting when they decided to vote in favour of demolition. 'I sat in the public gallery and watched a room full of people decide whether or not we would be losing our homes and our futures. 'And do you know what? I was sickened. 'They decided our fate while scrolling on their phones and eating chocolates.' George and Sheila will join fellow homeowners at a private meeting of the Torry Community Raac Campaign this weekend, to decide on next steps as a group. Since their last meeting, Raac has been discovered in Stirling, and 900 homes in Dundee are also now deemed unsafe. 'We just want fair prices or like-for-like houses. That's only fair,' added Sheila. 'Some council tenants have been given brand new houses while the homeowners could be penniless, living who knows where. How can that be right?' Councillor Christian Allard, co-leader of Aberdeen City Council, and elected member for Torry and Ferryhill, said: 'Meetings are all day and people will have a drink and something to eat from time to time. 'The work of Councillors doesn't stop during meetings. 'I do have to respond to a lot of urgent Council business during meetings and also, we do use our laptop, iPad or phone to get any information we need to better participate to debates. 'All 45 elected Councillors are very much aware of the huge issue that is RAAC for the residents of Torry.' Join our Trapped by Raac campaign to support the homeowners. Click this image to sign this petition to the UK Government:
