Tower block residents face uncertain future
STEPHEN STEWART
April 01 2004
RESIDENTS of scores of multi-storey flats in Glasgow will be forced to live in damp and unsanitary conditions until a decision is made over their possible demolition.
A "substantial programme of demolition" of tower blocks across the city is planned, according to an internal document produced by the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA).
It has indicated that it is committed to upgrading only housing stock which has a "long-term future and ensuring that all tenants within these properties have warm, dry and damp-free homes".
In documents viewed by The Herald, the GHA, Scotland's largest social landlord, admitted that it would not invest in flats whose long-term future was still uncertain.
The fate of some 32 blocks of flats, including the Red Road flats in Springburn, is currently being reviewed.
The GMB union, which represents concierges and other manual staff, has opposed the demolition move, claiming that it contradicts GHA's policy of openness and transparency.
A GMB source said: "GHA have said they will only invest in multi-storey flats which have a 30-year life span, but that was never mentioned pre-transfer. If that had been the case, then the vote (on the housing stock transfer) which was a close thing, may have swung the other way."
John Kiddie, a solicitor of the Govan Law Centre, who represents a number of GHA clients, said: "These homes fall short of minimum standards laid down by the law yet GHA will not commit to spending any money on essential repairs."
A spokesman for GHA said it had made a commitment to provide warm, dry, comfortable homes for all its tenants within 10 years, and added: "GHA has to consider the long-term future of all its properties before deciding to invest in them to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and possibly spending money on homes that people will not want to live in long term."
(c) The Herald , 2004.