A REPORT set to go before councillors to detail options for the buildings and residents affected by RAAC has been postponed.

A paper was set to be heard at the upcoming meeting of Clackmannanshire Council this Thursday, August 29, but has now been pushed back for reasons unknown.

The paper had been confirmed in a meeting with the UK RAAC Campaign Group, with the chairman Wilson Chowdhry relaying to the Advertiser that a date had been set for councillors to hear options.

Tillicoultry residents affected by RAAC in their homes have been waiting for answers since October when the crumbly concrete was first detected, with this latest delay a big blow for them.

Mr Chowdhry spoke to the Advertiser to share the residents’ feelings of disappointment, but looked ahead to more promising news.

He said: “The delay and postponement is a massive disappointment to families and individuals who have been waiting since October for results.

“There is a silver lining which is that I have been informed that the council is proceeding with an option to be put on the table before councillors to allow for pre-RAAC valuation declaration.

“That is something which is quite exclusive to Clackmannanshire, no other council has offered that.

“Of course, there are anxieties in the community but they do have a glimmer of hope.”

Allowing for residents to sell off their properties at valuations from before the RAAC was detected has been a major campaign point from Mr Chowdhry and his group.

Communications shared with the Advertiser said that this was an option that the council might consider, with no decisions set in stone just yet.

These said: “I am not in a position to second guess what that outcome will be, nor make any statements that would bind or commit the council.

“Purchase from the owners at pre-RAAC discovery values is one of the options that might consider.

“However, elected members must take account of the needs of the community/rent payers and act in their best interests.

“They will be required to consider which option represents best value.”

Taking the postponement into account, Mr Chowdhry met with Wilson Lees, the homelessness and supporting people manager at Clackmannanshire Council.

In a post written on Mr Chowdhry’s blog, he explains that the Mr Lees agreed to call a special meeting of the council as soon as the report was ready to avoid being lost to the council’s meeting schedule.

Currently, the next meeting of the full council would be set for early October, nearing the one year anniversary of RAAC first being discovered in their homes.

Residents convened at The Crossed Peels in Stirling to discuss the developments, with many sharing their disappointment between each other over further delays.

The group have decided to hold a protest outside Kilncraigs on the day the report is presented to full council, while it has also submitted a public petition through the council’s online portal.

This petition calls for a fair deal to be reached between the homeowners and the council, which supports the ongoing Scottish Parliament petition.

This petition has more than 1,100 signatures at the time of writing and calls on the Scottish Government to establish a RAAC fund to better support those affected.

Mr Chowdhry added: “The approach taken by Clackmannanshire Council, potentially offering pre-RAAC declaration valuations, represents a crucial step in mitigating the financial hardship faced by homeowners affected by RAAC issues.

“This approach acknowledges the investments made by property owners before the problem was identified and aims to provide fair compensation based on these prior values.”

The Advertiser approached Clackmannanshire Council for a comment on why the paper was postponed, but the local authority refused to say.

A spokesperson for the council said: “The council recognises this is a worrying time for those concerned and can confirm that there is ongoing communication with those affected by RAAC and their representatives.

“We will continue to provide appropriate support and updates where available to those directly affected.

“Officers are currently preparing an update for councillors, which will be shared with the local stakeholder group, and a further paper, to consider the future of the RAAC evacuated properties, will be brought to council as soon as is possible."