West Lothian RAAC campaigner blasts John Swinney as housing minister promises meeting

The agreement by Mairi McAllan comes after months of lobbying by the UK RAAC campaign led by Wilson Chowdhry and vice chair, local ghost estate campaigner Kerry Macintosh.

The Scottish Housing Minister has promised to meet West Lothian home owners affected by the crumbling concrete scandal.

The agreement by Mairi McAllan comes after months of lobbying by the UK RAAC campaign led by Wilson Chowdhry and vice chair, local ghost estate campaigner Kerry Macintosh.

Speaking exclusively to the Local Democracy Reporting Service today [Monday] Kerry said: “This needs to be resolved.” and she called for a “collaborative grass roots approach.”

She also had harsh words for John Swinney, the First Minister who she said: “was happy to meet Donald Trump in Aberdeen, but not the people there who have been suffering because of RAAC in their homes.”

Mairi McAllan, in a letter to the UK RAAC Campaign group, said she plans to listen to householders who have been affected.

The Minister said: “I am planning to meet directly with affected homeowners, in areas with the highest number of privately owned RAAC-affected properties; to listen to their concerns and explore potential solutions.

“It is my intention that invitations to attend these meetings will be issued to residents, local campaign groups and elected representatives.

“My officials will shortly take forward work making the relevant arrangements which will include arranging meetings with affected homeowners in Clackmannanshire and West Lothian Council areas.”

Details of the West Lothian meeting have still to be finalised but Kerry paid tribute to campaigners and Mr Chowdhry for their efforts to secure a meeting with Holyrood ministers.

She also thanked local Conservative group leader Councillor Damian Doran-Timson for his support.

Councillor Doran-Timson also wrote to the minister requesting Ms McAllan meet his constituents whose homes, mostly the Craigshill area of Livingston, have been discovered to have RAAC roofing panels.

Responding to the minister’s offer of a meeting, Councillor Doran-Timson said: “Solutions for home owners need to be found fast and we need to work together to find them.”

Kerry remains adamant that compensation should be paid to the thousands who have bought their homes in good faith and now face financial difficulties.

She told the LDRS: “ Ministers say they understand, but they cannot know what it is like to face the anxieties that people have faced when they have been moved out of their homes, lost their possessions. They cannot understand the stress that thousands have been under, that’s why it is important for the Minister to meet us.”

Kerry wrote the Minister: “I was particularly heartened by your plans to meet directly with affected residents and to convene a RAAC in Housing Response Group. As Vice Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group and a resident of West Lothian, I am deeply involved in coordinating efforts here and supporting affected households.

“I would be more than happy to work with local councillors to coordinate an appropriate date and venue for your proposed meeting in West Lothian. We can ensure that the event is accessible, inclusive, and, most importantly, shaped by the community - particularly as many residents feel they have been overlooked until now.

“I believe this collaborative, grass roots approach will send a strong message that the voices of affected citizens truly matter in shaping the response to RAAC. Please let me know how best to proceed in working together to make the necessary arrangements.

“Thank you again for your engagement and ongoing efforts.”

The campaign has also lobbied Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister and national housing ministers for a meeting. An online petition is ongoing.

Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here.