Latest news with #ReinforcedAutoclavedAeratedConcrete
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Construction work progressing well at high school in West Lothian with problematic aerated concrete
The project is on track for completion in Spring 2026 Work on a major construction project at a West Lothian high school is progressing well. A new wing is currently being built at St Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn following issues with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). The project to re-build a significant proportion of the school is on track for completion in Spring 2026, after over two-thirds of the school had to be demolished due to RAAC. A recent meeting of Council Executive received an update on the project, with the steel frame, concrete floors, and staircases now in place to mark a significant milestone. Contractor Heron Bros is undertaking the construction work on behalf of the council and development partner, Hub South East. Discussions are ongoing with the Scottish Government over support to fund the works at St. Kentigern's. The school's Pupil Voice group has been actively involved in visiting the construction site for updates and sharing them with the wider school community. Executive councillor for education Andrew McGuire 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 open 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 village. 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 the young people who attend the school. The work has been ongoing while the school is operational, with every effort made to keep disruption to a minimum for a project of its scale. A temporary Learning Village has been put in place to support learning, with some PE lessons and SQA exams the only activities requiring additional space off-site.
Press and Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- Press and Journal
David Knight: Council bosses need to act on Raac before Balnagask becomes broken-down ghetto of rebellion overlooking cruise ship harbour
There's a lot to be said for the personal touch – it can knock down walls and win people over with one small gesture. Unless the walls are made out of Raac (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete), it would seem. Someone famous once wrote how American bank tellers were trained to make customers feel as though they were old friends. I felt something similar when I met the King in Aberdeen when he was still Prince of Wales. A brief encounter of just a few minutes left a vivid lasting impression. It's just a knack which he has perfected over the years: as though you were special and the most important person in the room at that precise moment. Let's now take a look at the Raac people at Torry in Aberdeen, for example. Specifically, owners who bought their homes from the council or other private proprietors who had previously completed similar transactions with the authority. They now face ruin due to weaknesses in Raac 'concrete' used in construction years before (more Aero-looking than concrete, it's been said). Devastated to see Aberdeen City Council offering to 'rescue' their homes at slashed knockdown prices, at up to £50,000 less than they might have otherwise received The council much prefers to describe their offers as realistic 'current market value', but don't be silly – we know which is the more accurate description. An apparent lack of personal touch from council leaders amid such a personal crisis rankles with families, who plead to be compensated fairly. Official valuers come and go, cut-price offers made and that seems to be about it. This aloofness issue surfaced again when award-winning P&J journalist Lindsay Bruce grilled co-council leader Christian Allard about all things Raac. When asked pointedly about his lack of one-to-ones with those who were suffering he didn't really have a convincing answer. Actually he appeared to squirm like a seal out of water. Many a leader has come unstuck by not being around in person when disaster strikes a community. Now owners are digging in for a long battle. The authority cannot brick this up behind a fireplace and hope people abandon the fight or die off. A few days ago, community campaigners backed by the P&J met the council to offer compromises in search of a solution to cover their serious losses – incurred through no fault of their own. A difficult challenge as the council has appeared unwilling to budge so far. The event resonated with echoes of an infamous episode when Aberdeen bus-gate protesters took their own sensible compromises to the council in an attempt to protect city businesses from ruin – and had the door slammed in their faces, so to speak. Raac owners vow to stay-put in condemned houses until they get what they're owed as their once-vibrant community sadly goes to ruin around them. Do council bosses really want to see a broken-down ghetto of rebellion overlooking their shiny new cruise-ship harbour, with waves of affluent tourists passing by? Resembling surviving structures in a bombed-out wartime street; a monument to past follies? Call me simplistic or plain old-fashioned, but surely the buck goes back to the council in some form or other? After all, the properties carried serious hidden structural defects at the time they were offloaded to the public – irrespective of what was known then or now about Raac. It's now become depressingly normal for institutions to recompense victims today for yesterday's mistakes by past colleagues. And especially as warning bells were sounded by another Scottish council which condemned Raac houses nearly a quarter of a century ago. Is it fair to assume Aberdeen officials were aware of this and had assessed its impact on local owners? One Torry family member struck a chord with a particularly memorable quote. 'When they really want to do something they'll always find the money,' he said. Meaning governments and councils will always find the cash for any number of ideological projects to which suit their agenda. Or unless they happen to be a doctor, nurse, bin worker or train driver who wield enormous disproportionate power to win generous pay rises backed by dire threats to public health and safety. But not necessarily for the likes of Raac victims in Torry. If you're scraping a living in Torry you pose no threat and can be pushed around – no matter how unjust it is. Just like pensioners who discovered they were dispensable when Starmer and Reeves stole winter fuel payments from their back pockets. Do we now look to Swinney to unlock the door to housing cash or can Aberdeen Council be creative within its own housing budget? A roof is only a roof, but we feel the strain – and therefore the pain – of living beneath it when the world is about to cave in. David Knight is the long-serving former deputy editor of The Press and Journal To read more about the Raac crisis and our campaign click here. Trapped by Raac: 5000 reasons to keep fighting for Aberdeen homeowners impacted by concrete crisis
Pembrokeshire Herald
23-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Health board launches critical services consultation as MP demands answers
A MAJOR public consultation on the future of nine vital NHS services in west Wales is expected to be launched on Wednesday (May 29) following a meeting of Hywel Dda University Health Board. The consultation, part of the board's Clinical Services Plan, will run until August 31 and seeks views on options for delivering care across services including critical care, stroke, radiology, emergency general surgery and orthopaedics. The board says all nine areas are fragile and in urgent need of change to ensure safety, quality, and sustainability. Henry Tufnell MP: Says Heath Board has lack of transparency and accountability (Pic: Herald) But the plan is already under political and public scrutiny, as newly elected Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell prepares for a key meeting with health board leadership in the days following the consultation's launch. He has accused the board of presiding over a deteriorating healthcare system and called for 'immediate and meaningful action' to restore public trust and address mounting delays in diagnosis, treatment and GP access. 'There's still no acceptance by the board that there's a problem,' Mr Tufnell said. 'The management is failing us here in Pembrokeshire. There's a complete lack of transparency and accountability.' While health is devolved to the Welsh Government and decisions on service configuration ultimately lie with Senedd ministers and local health boards, Tufnell's intervention puts Labour under pressure on two fronts—at Westminster and in Cardiff Bay. The MP, who has already submitted a Freedom of Information request about GP waiting times and service performance, is demanding full disclosure from Hywel Dda on plans to tackle NHS fragility in the region. He insists the consultation must lead to 'more than paperwork.' 'I want to see concrete commitments to improving patient access and safeguarding the future of local hospitals. The people I represent deserve clarity, not vague promises,' he said. Cracks in the system—literally Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest lies at the heart of local concern. Once a fully functioning general hospital, it has seen gradual downgrading of services over the past decade—and last year, its structural weaknesses became national news. In 2023, six wards were forced to close after dangerous concrete—Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC)—was found in the building's ceilings. Over 100 beds were taken offline during urgent repairs. Though all wards were reopened by spring 2024, health chiefs admit that problems linked to RAAC will remain for the 'lifetime of the building' and further closures are expected as parts of the hospital are re-surveyed this year. The Welsh Government allocated £12.8 million for temporary remediation, but the long-term future of the building remains in doubt, with calls growing for a new hospital to replace the aging structure. Campaigners fear the consultation may be used to justify further centralisation of services away from Pembrokeshire. 'A system under pressure' The Clinical Services Plan identifies nine services at risk of failing to deliver safe, timely care. These include critical care, emergency surgery, stroke services, radiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, endoscopy and urology. The Health Board says it has no preferred option at this stage and wants to hear from staff, patients and the public before any decision is made. In-person and online events are planned over the summer, and a questionnaire will be made available from May 29. Interim Medical Director Mr Mark Henwood said: 'We want to hear your views on which options best address the challenges, improve standards, and reduce waiting times. We're also keen to understand any concerns, impacts, or alternative ideas you may have—including your thoughts on the future role of our main hospitals.' The consultation opens amid a grim new snapshot of NHS performance in Wales. Data published today (May 22) reveals persistent backlogs in planned care, mounting pressure on emergency departments, and cancer pathway delays across the country. In Pembrokeshire, GP appointment access remains among the worst in Wales, and local A&E departments continue to struggle with patient flow—exacerbated by bed shortages and social care delays. Public invited to shape future care The consultation will ask the public to comment on which proposals best address current service fragilities, how they may impact patients and communities, the role of local hospitals, and any alternative suggestions or priorities. The results will be reviewed by the Health Board in November 2025, though that date may be pushed back if the volume of responses is high. To take part or learn more, visit: Residents can also register with the board's engagement scheme at:
Pembrokeshire Herald
23-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Health Board confirms appointment of Executive Medical Director
A MAJOR public consultation on the future of nine vital NHS services in west Wales is expected to be launched on Wednesday (May 29) following a meeting of Hywel Dda University Health Board. The consultation, part of the board's Clinical Services Plan, will run until August 31 and seeks views on options for delivering care across services including critical care, stroke, radiology, emergency general surgery and orthopaedics. The board says all nine areas are fragile and in urgent need of change to ensure safety, quality, and sustainability. Henry Tufnell MP: Says Heath Board has lack of transparency and accountability (Pic: Herald) But the plan is already under political and public scrutiny, as newly elected Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell prepares for a key meeting with health board leadership in the days following the consultation's launch. He has accused the board of presiding over a deteriorating healthcare system and called for 'immediate and meaningful action' to restore public trust and address mounting delays in diagnosis, treatment and GP access. 'There's still no acceptance by the board that there's a problem,' Mr Tufnell said. 'The management is failing us here in Pembrokeshire. There's a complete lack of transparency and accountability.' While health is devolved to the Welsh Government and decisions on service configuration ultimately lie with Senedd ministers and local health boards, Tufnell's intervention puts Labour under pressure on two fronts—at Westminster and in Cardiff Bay. The MP, who has already submitted a Freedom of Information request about GP waiting times and service performance, is demanding full disclosure from Hywel Dda on plans to tackle NHS fragility in the region. He insists the consultation must lead to 'more than paperwork.' 'I want to see concrete commitments to improving patient access and safeguarding the future of local hospitals. The people I represent deserve clarity, not vague promises,' he said. Cracks in the system—literally Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest lies at the heart of local concern. Once a fully functioning general hospital, it has seen gradual downgrading of services over the past decade—and last year, its structural weaknesses became national news. In 2023, six wards were forced to close after dangerous concrete—Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC)—was found in the building's ceilings. Over 100 beds were taken offline during urgent repairs. Though all wards were reopened by spring 2024, health chiefs admit that problems linked to RAAC will remain for the 'lifetime of the building' and further closures are expected as parts of the hospital are re-surveyed this year. The Welsh Government allocated £12.8 million for temporary remediation, but the long-term future of the building remains in doubt, with calls growing for a new hospital to replace the aging structure. Campaigners fear the consultation may be used to justify further centralisation of services away from Pembrokeshire. 'A system under pressure' The Clinical Services Plan identifies nine services at risk of failing to deliver safe, timely care. These include critical care, emergency surgery, stroke services, radiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, endoscopy and urology. The Health Board says it has no preferred option at this stage and wants to hear from staff, patients and the public before any decision is made. In-person and online events are planned over the summer, and a questionnaire will be made available from May 29. Interim Medical Director Mr Mark Henwood said: 'We want to hear your views on which options best address the challenges, improve standards, and reduce waiting times. We're also keen to understand any concerns, impacts, or alternative ideas you may have—including your thoughts on the future role of our main hospitals.' The consultation opens amid a grim new snapshot of NHS performance in Wales. Data published today (May 22) reveals persistent backlogs in planned care, mounting pressure on emergency departments, and cancer pathway delays across the country. In Pembrokeshire, GP appointment access remains among the worst in Wales, and local A&E departments continue to struggle with patient flow—exacerbated by bed shortages and social care delays. Public invited to shape future care The consultation will ask the public to comment on which proposals best address current service fragilities, how they may impact patients and communities, the role of local hospitals, and any alternative suggestions or priorities. The results will be reviewed by the Health Board in November 2025, though that date may be pushed back if the volume of responses is high. To take part or learn more, visit: Residents can also register with the board's engagement scheme at:
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Housing association's RAAC teams in place as West Lothian tenants prepare to be decanted to allow work
Work is expected to take around seven days for each affected property A housing association has announced it now has teams in place to remove concrete panels from its homes in West Lothian which will require tenants to be decanted to alternative accommodation for around a week. Almond Housing Association has over 2500 properties in the Craigshill, Eliburn, Howden and Ladywell areas of Livingston, as well as in Whitburn. Following a successful procurement and recruitment process Almond Housing Association now have both a contractor and new RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) project team in place. On the team front, Project Manager Frank is joined by two Tenant Liaison Officers, Mandy and Joni, who both have a great deal of housing and customer service experience. As the title suggests, their main role is to be the key tenant liaison point for the duration of the project. DBM Building Contractors Ltd has been awarded the contract and work has started with a couple of properties that are currently empty. They will move on to those of Almond customers in June. For the majority of the registered social landlord's tenants, an RAAC panel containing a loft hatch needs to be removed. Having already undertaken several pilots in properties with this same problem, the remedial works take around seven working days to complete. Due to the messy nature of the work, customers will need to be decanted to alternative accommodation during this time. Work in some properties will start mid-week, which could result in those tenants having a slightly longer stay in the decant property because of the weekends. Almond Housing Association are currently preparing a number of houses for the decants. New kitchens, flooring and broadband has been installed, and furniture will be arriving very soon. Director of Asset Management, Iona Taylor said: 'We appreciate the upheaval and inconvenience this project is going to cause and we will do our utmost to ensure the process is as streamlined and painless as possible for our customers. "Logistically it is a detailed programme of works and needs support from all those involved to ensure the timeline and milestones can be achieved. A delay with one customer could potentially affect all those who follow.' Thomas Brown, Managing Director of DBM Building Contractors Ltd added: 'We are pleased to be working with Almond Housing and our team is ready to bring our expertise to this essential project, working closely with the Association to ensure smooth and efficient delivery from start to finish.' All Almond tenants who are impacted by this project have been sent various communications. Once the programme of works has been confirmed, Tenant Liaison Officers Mandy and Joni will be reaching out to share the information. If anyone wish to contact them before then, they can email: RAACTeam@
