Cole-Hamilton responds to Aberdeen RAAC demolition plan

Responding to a report for Aberdeen council which has found that demolishing and rebuilding more than 500 properties in the city affected by potentially dangerous concrete is the best option, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

“This report will be troubling reading for those in council houses across the country where this dangerous concrete has been detected.

“If the risks are serious enough to merit demolition in Aberdeen, what about other areas like Dundee and Edinburgh which have also found the material in social housing? What about fire stations, NHS buildings and schools?

“It is now over a year since I raised this issue with the then First Minister and the government’s response has been to make it someone else’s problem.

“Cash-strapped local authorities cannot be expected to bear the costs of removals and rebuilding alone.

“It is time for the SNP government to listen to our calls and urgently establish a fund that councils, health boards and public bodies can tap into to remove this dangerous concrete.”