Latest news with #TrappedbyRaac
Press and Journal
3 days ago
- General
- Press and Journal
Trapped by Raac: Have your say at Aberdeen 'Question Time' event
As part of The Press and Journal's Trapped by Raac campaign we are staging a Question Time-style event in Aberdeen. Bringing together those impacted by the concrete crisis and the leaders charged with finding a way through it, we'd like to hear from you. Aberdeen city councillors, MSPs, MPs and ministers have been invited to join members of the Torry Community Raac Campaign group for the evening. Whether you are a homeowner or tenant affected by Raac, a concerned Torry resident wondering what life will be like living next to a building site, or just an Aberdeen taxpayer who has an opinion on who should foot the bill, send us your thoughts and questions. During our campaign, amidst heartrending stories of suffering and anguish, we've identified several questions to be resolved, including: More issues were raised during last week's live P&J Raac debate. If you would like to share your opinion or ask a question, use the form below. We'll be sharing footage and content from the event afterwards.
Press and Journal
3 days ago
- 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.
The Courier
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Courier
United against Raac: The Courier takes landmark step in fight for residents in Dundee and Angus
The Courier has taken a landmark step in our fight for those trapped by Raac in Dundee, Monifieth and across Scotland. In a first for both titles, we join with our sister paper The Press and Journal to share a front page highlighting the impact on those devastated by the defective block crisis. That is a testament to how serious an issue it has become in our communities. Together, alongside the thousands of those affected, we are united against Raac. We are also asking for your help – we are asking our readers to sign this petition and give homeowners and tenants a voice in the corridors of power. That is where their plight must be heard. For this special edition, editors of both publications explain why they are taking this important step in highlighting the issue blighting our communities. David Clegg, editor of The Courier, said: 'In Dundee alone, nearly 900 homes are caught in the Raac crisis. Dozens more are affected in nearby Monifieth – and across Scotland, the total runs into the thousands, including in cities like Aberdeen. 'This isn't just about buildings. It's about people. 'It's families raising children in homes that may no longer be safe. It's elderly couples unable to downsize for health reasons. 'It's young first-time buyers trapped in negative equity. It's grieving daughters who, after the loss of a loved one, now face the burden of inheriting a crumbling flat that could financially devastate them. 'Both tenants and homeowners are affected – but it is the homeowners who face the sharpest edge of this crisis.' He added: 'They are living in properties no longer worth the value of their mortgage. 'Many cannot sell, cannot move, and cannot see a way forward. 'They are Trapped by Raac. 'That's why The Courier and our sister title The Press and Journal have taken the landmark decision to share our front pages. 'This is more than a campaign – it's a call for urgent action. 'Each level of government is passing the buck. 'Councils will support their own tenants but are leaving private homeowners to face this alone. 'Holyrood looks to Westminster. Westminster looks the other way. 'Homeowners feel abandoned – and with good reason. No one is offering them a way out. No one even appears to be trying. 'Our petition aims to change that. It gives these people a voice and demands those in power finally listen. 'They need your support. We're proud to stand with them. We hope you will too.' Craig Walker, editor of the Press and Journal, spoke of the devastating impact the crisis is having in Aberdeen. He said: 'More than 500 houses, thousands of people displaced, hundreds more in limbo and 18 months of misery for all. 'This is the scale and the cost of Aberdeen City Council discovering risky Raac in the roofs of Balnagask homes. 'Yet this week in Holyrood, weeks into our Trapped by Raac campaign, finance minister Ivan McKee claimed MSPs were 'scaremongering' with comments about residents losing their homes or being stuck in worthless properties. 'He even said Raac does not have to be a 'problem' if it is 'properly maintained'. 'What chance do the good people of Balnagask have – and almost a thousand more in Dundee and Angus – if their government ministers can't comprehend the scale of this disaster? 'This is why we launched our campaign. And it's why we are standing shoulder to shoulder with our sister title, The Courier, today. 'Time has run out for buck-passing, and for ignorance. It's time to face reality, stand united, and help those suffering through no fault of our own. ''A complete injustice' is how Tory MSP Meghan Gallagher described the situation in Aberdeen,' to which Mr McKee told her to 'tone down her language and focus on the facts.' 'Well, the facts are these: Hundreds of homes are going to be demolished unless funding can be found to provide alternative solutions. 'Hundreds more are living with the threat of Raac literally over their heads. And thousands more signatures are needed to get governments of all levels to come together to find a way forward. 'We have championed the Balnagask people on the pages of The Press and Journal. We've told the stories of families, pensioners, war veterans, babies, first-time buyers and long-standing members of the community. 'With no way forward, Trapped by Raac, they need our help. 'Please sign the homeowners' petition today.'
Press and Journal
5 days ago
- Politics
- Press and Journal
P&J and Courier unite for the first time to help families Trapped by Raac
The Press and Journal has taken a landmark step in our fight for those Trapped by Raac in Aberdeen, and across Scotland. In a first for both titles, we join with our sister paper The Courier to share a joint front page highlighting those devastated by the defective block crisis. That is a testament to how serious an issue it has become in our communities. Together, alongside the thousands of those affected, we are united against Raac. We are also asking for your help – we are asking our readers to sign this petition and give homeowners and tenants a voice in the corridors of power. That is where their plight must be heard. For this special edition of these newspapers, both editors of these publications have said why they have taken this important step in highlighting the issue blighting our communities. Editor of The Press and Journal, Craig Walker, said that we'll continue to champion the people of Balnagask, but more needs to be done. 'More than 500 houses, thousands of people displaced, hundreds more in limbo and 18 months of misery for all. This is the scale and the cost of Aberdeen City Council discovering risky Raac in the roofs of Balnagask homes,' he said. 'Yet this week in Holyrood, weeks into our Trapped by Raac campaign, finance minister Ivan McKee claimed MSPs were 'scaremongering' with comments about residents losing their homes or being stuck in worthless properties. 'He even said Raac does not have to be a 'problem' if it is 'properly maintained'. 'What chance do the good people of Balnagask have – and almost a thousand more in Dundee and Angus – if their government ministers can't comprehend the scale of this disaster? 'This is why we launched our campaign. And it's why we are standing shoulder to shoulder with our sister title The Courier, today. 'Time has run out for buck-passing, and for ignorance. It's time to face reality, stand united, and help those suffering through no fault of our own. ''A complete injustice' is how Tory MSP Meghan Gallagher described the situation in Aberdeen, to which Mr McKee told her to 'tone down her language and focus on the facts.' 'Well, the facts are these: Hundreds of homes are going to be demolished unless funding can be found to provide alternative solutions. Hundreds more are living with the threat of Raac literally over their heads. And thousands of signatures are needed to get governments of all levels to come together to find a way forward. 'We have championed the Balnagask people on the pages of The Press and Journal. We've told the stories of families, pensioners, war veterans, babies, first-time buyers and long-standing members of the community. 'With no way forward, Trapped by Raac, they need our help.' David Clegg, editor for The Courier, says: 'In Dundee alone, nearly 900 homes are caught in the RAAC crisis. Dozens more are affected in nearby Monifieth – and across Scotland, the total runs into the thousands, including in cities like Aberdeen. 'This isn't just about buildings. It's about people. 'It's families raising children in homes that may no longer be safe. Elderly couples unable to downsize for health reasons. 'It's young first-time buyers trapped in negative equity. It's grieving daughters who, after the loss of a loved one, now face the burden of inheriting a crumbling flat that could financially devastate them. 'Both tenants and homeowners are affected, but it is the homeowners who face the sharpest edge of this crisis. 'They are living in properties no longer worth the value of their mortgage. 'Many cannot sell, cannot move, and cannot see a way forward. 'They are Trapped by Raac. 'That's why The Courier and The Press and Journal have taken the landmark decision to share our front pages. 'This is more than a campaign – it's a call for urgent action. 'Each level of government is passing the buck. 'Councils will support their own tenants but are leaving private homeowners to face this alone. 'Holyrood looks to Westminster. Westminster looks the other way. 'Homeowners feel abandoned – and with good reason. No one is offering them a way out. No one even appears to be trying. 'Our petition aims to change that. It gives these people a voice and demands those in power finally listen. 'They need your support. We're proud to stand with them. We hope you will too.' hub spot raac: Read more from the Trapped by Raac Campaign here:
Press and Journal
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Torry homeowners told 'spend thousands yourselves to fix roofs if you want to save Raac homes from demolition'
Torry residents 'bared their souls' as they issued emotional pleas for council chiefs not to demolish their homes – before being told they'd have to cough up thousands themselves to save them. Last year, it emerged that around 500 properties in Balnagask would need to be evacuated as they were built using crumbly concrete at risk of collapse. While hundreds of tenants have since been relocated to council homes elsewhere in Aberdeen, those in homes purchased from the authority have been stuck in limbo. We have launched the Trapped by Raac campaign to help them in their plight, as they face losing out on tens of thousands of pounds by selling their homes at reduced rates. It's an injustice likened to the Post Office Scandal, and thousands have backed a petition calling for action to help these scores of Torry residents. And it was against this backdrop of growing public outcry that emotional homeowners pleaded to spare some homes from demolition in a highly-charged council meeting this week. The affected homeowners behind the Torry Raac Community Group (TRCG) had put forward various ideas for the council to consider – other than just buying their properties at their current value, and then flattening them… Some owners are simply refusing to even negotiate the sale of their homes on these terms. The community campaigners say it's 'not a viable option'. So what were the alternative proposals these long-suffering residents would be willing to consider? A report that went before the showdown committee meeting explained that homeowners would be willing to consider a few different solutions. One would be swapping their properties for another 'of equal value' in Aberdeen, with 'home loss and disturbance payments' from the council. But they are most keen on a proposal to swap their own afflicted properties for another in the Balnagask area. They have identified a cluster of Raac-affected houses which they say could be repaired, with new roofs installed. This would mean some people can stay in their own homes, subject to the crumbly concrete being replaced. Others leaving their properties destined for demolition nearby would be able to move into others – meaning they can stay in the neighbourhood they know and love. Council property experts say the idea of doing up Balnagask properties blighted by Raac to allow this would be 'complex' and 'high risk'. And it would only be a viable option for the local authority 'subject to funding'. The report adds: 'It requires significant coordination and investment of resources and there are unknown risks that would be held by the council.' And as council chiefs roll out a 'masterplan' for the flattened site, they say having these remaining properties in the area might make that 'more difficult'. The main point of contention is that officers 'propose that this is part-funded by owners'. Taking his seat in the council chambers on Tuesday morning, campaigner Raymond Davidson was incredulous at the notion homeowners should cover some of these costs themselves. He said: 'The council approved £13m in funding to acquire these homes and demolish them. In exchange, you'll have displaced 138 people. 'Many may become homeless. 'Our alternative is pragmatic, it would cost £2-3m less than demolition. This isn't pie in the sky, the only barrier is homeowners paying for roof replacements. 'If they could, we wouldn't be here today! 'If they could, the work would be done… If residents can't fund roof replacements then that opportunity disappears – sending us back to mass demolition.' Others backed his 'more compassionate plan', with emotive pleas. Paula Fraser is a recently relocated Torry tenant, who says the past 19 months has 'felt like a lifetime' as children were 'separated from friends' and disabled people 'ripped from their support network' by the moves. She said, 'Our community has been torn apart. 'I know people have turned to alcohol, drinking two bottles a day.' The campaigner later read anonymous testimonies from residents saying they had contemplated suicide, and from relatives of elderly homeowners worried about their 'deteriorating health'. The Press and Journal's Lindsay Bruce has been leading The Press and Journal's Trapped by Raac campaign. Lindsay gave an impassioned speech during the meeting – calling for a fair solution. She said: 'This is a community that is more tight-knit than any other I have come across in my time as a reporter, and it is about to be ripped apart. 'This is about people, not policies and politics. I've sat with pensioners who can no longer enjoy their retirement, and others who can't retire at all. 'We need a solution that is fair and not one that is just eradicating buildings to the ground.' Ultimately, councillors voted to proceed with the plan as it is – which would see all homes demolished. The option of relocating residents within Balnagask would still depend on homeowners contributing cash – which they themselves have ruled out. Labour's plea for any repairs to be fully funded by the council was outvoted by 5-4 by the SNP and Lib Dem administration. The SNP's committee convener Miranda Radley said she was 'disappointed in the tone' of the meeting at times, after Labour's Simon Watson accused her of 'ignoring homeowners and shoving them out the door'. 'If you don't think I am turning over every stone to find a solution to this, I'm speechless,' she added. The housing convener told members she had written to Keir Starmer over the issue. And she urged people to sign the petition calling for the UK Government to take action. She said: 'Only the UK Government can provide a Raac fund to alleviate this financial devastation. 'The Raac crisis is no-one's fault and officers are working as hard as they can to mitigate safety risks to homeowners. 'Proposals that rely solely on council funding to remediate privately owned homes are not considered legally viable at this point.' However, reports that went before councillors confirmed that officials 'recognise the difficulty of some owners in meeting costs on an upfront basis'. And the dossier suggests owners could be 'offered a loan by the council to pay for their contribution towards the works'. Former SNP group leader Alex Nicoll urged his former party colleagues to 'get off the 'blame Westminster' merry-go-round'. After the latest round of talks ground to a halt, campaigners gathered in the Costa coffee shop across from the Town House to continue to press their case with council co-leader Christian Allard. It came after the Torry SNP councillor told us he hadn't visited anyone affected by the life-changing problem on his doorstep. Emerging from the discussions onto Broad Street 20 minutes later, Raymond Davidson was dejected but determined to keep up the fight. He said: 'They're still sticking with their proposals, which will no doubt be rejected by the owners. It's like Groundhog Day. 'The council have committed more money for the demolition than repairing the cluster would cost, which will leave everyone worse off. 'Residents won't have a house, and the land will have little to no value.' Joining him outside the cafe, homeowner Lynn Winstanley tells me she fears any outcome on Raac from Aberdeen City Council will now 'see the homeowners at a loss'. She sighed: 'If people could repair the roofs, we wouldn't be in this situation. 'We need to regroup and decide how we go forward. We will keep fighting, and we're not going anywhere.' And Paula added: 'We're really disappointed. Up until now, we have played nice. 'This isn't about the land, this is about human beings. Family members and communities are being ripped apart. 'I don't know if Torry will ever recover from this.' 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 Join our debate on the Raac crisis
