A MEETING set between representatives of Clackmannanshire Council and residents hit by the Tillicoultry RAAC crisis has been cancelled.
Residents were set to be given the chance to voice their concerns to the council, who are yet to provide a decision on the future of their homes.
However, the council have now made the decision to postpone the meeting, citing a difference in expectations between the parties.
The news was delivered by Andy Buchanan, housing business management team leader with the council, who asked for the cancellation to be shared among residents.
He said: “Following further consideration and discussion, we understand there to be a significant difference in expectation around the purpose of the meeting.
“We are at present still some weeks away from having the developed options appraisal information needed to engage in further discussion with you.
“There is at present no new update available beyond the information contained within the briefing note most recently issued to the group.
“At this time, we feel that it is best to postpone the planned meeting but with a firm commitment to agreeing (as a collective) a details forward plan and schedule for both in person meetings and written communications between the council and private owners group.”
Residents were informed of the cancellation just one day before the meeting and voiced their disappointment in the shared WhatsApp group chat.
This chat hosts all of the residents and homeowners affected, alongside Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group and Wilson Lees, homelessness and supporting people manager from the council.
One called the decision “absolutely ridiculous” in leaving them with only one day’s notice, while another accused the council of playing with their lives.
A resident said: “Absolutely ridiculous, you should be ashamed of yourself – the support that you claim to have given us the whole way through this has been non existent.
“I have arranged a baby sitter, taken time off work and also my auntie has arrange time off work – are you going to reimburse us for time taken off?
“The fact that you can’t facilitate a meeting to let us express our feelings shows that you do not really care at all about what we have bene through the past year.”
Another was left infuriated with the council’s decision, insisting: “Playing with our lives here.”
Residents suffered another blow as Mr Buchanan informed them that the WhatsApp group would also be shut down.
This group has been the residents’ primary form of communication between themselves and the council, leaving many feeling they are adrift from voicing their concerns.
Mr Buchanan continued: “It is our intention to no longer utilise WhatsApp as a means of communicating with the group.
“We with instead to agree with the group a suitable means to progress to put in place an agreed pro-forma to provide updates at regular intervals.
“Please accept our apologies for the cancellation at this late stage, I hope that you understand the reasons for this and that we wish to maintain strong and positive relationships moving forward to work together in finding solutions to the current situation.”
The residents had planned a protest to be held outside Kilncraigs for today at 1pm, with Mr Chowdry also expected to attend the protest.
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