Council forced to backtrack on flats repair works after PA intervention

Oct 14 2011 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

BLUNDERING council officials were forced into an embarrassing U-turn by The PA yesterday over repair works to fire-ravaged Perth flats.

Furious Fair City residents, who narrowly avoided serious injury after an inferno at their Strathtay Road block, contacted The PA to vent their exasperation at the local authority’s response.

The stunned council-house tenants had been informed that their close, which was badly damaged in the fire on September 13, would not be redecorated for another FOUR MONTHS.

However, after we grilled Perth and Kinross Council yesterday over their inadequate service, residents were immediately informed that work would commence that afternoon.

Thanking the PA yesterday, first floor tenant Margaret Keay said: “The council were very adamant the other day that nothing would be done until February at the earliest.

“And all of a sudden they have said they are going to clean the close this afternoon and give it a coat of base paint to freshen it up.

“Personally, I don’t think they would have been in touch if The PA hadn’t contacted them this morning.

“It is a bit drastic that people have to go to these extremes to get things done. I’ve lost total faith in the council.”

The incident has left their fire-devastated storeroom, where the blaze began, unusable, and the stairwell walls black.

A lingering scent of smoke remains and windows have been blown-out.

And according to Ms Keay and her neighbour, Senga Capon, PKC had told residents they would have to live in dire circumstances until February, which coincides with the fitting of an external security door.

Before the local authority backtracked, Ms Keay had said: “It’s just a mess. It’s crazy, the whole close is raging.

“They did come in and give it a clean but downstairs is still all black, we have no storage at all and it absolutely stinks of the smoke.

“The whole place is dark and horrible because the windows which were burst with the fire have been replaced with big boards and we’ve had a problem with our lights.”

Similarly, Ms Capon (43) told the PA: “It’s just basically the same. It’s a joke.

“I would say, if they painted it, it would take the smell away. It’s quite embarrassing living here now.

“None of my family have been up since the fire and we’ve got the whole festive period to get through before it’s fixed.

“The lights haven’t been working on the landing either and it’s frightening – my wee girl is terrified.

“They say the security door will be getting fitted in February. Since we’ve had this fire, why can’t they do ours now?”

A PKC spokesperson said yesterday: “The council has been discussing these issues with tenants and we do appreciate their concerns with regard to repairs to the flats.

“Staff are currently meeting with residents to discuss their concerns and give an update on the immediate and longer term improvements planned.

“Deep cleaning has already been carried out in the close and stairwell and the windows have been made secure.

“We are also going to do further deep cleaning this afternoon and will be painting the close early next week.

“The council had already planned extensive improvement works to this and other properties in the areas, which include fire prevention measures and secure door entry systems.

“This is due to begin on January 9. These flats will be given priority and will therefore be the first to receive these improvements, given the recent fire damage.”

Tayside Fire and Rescue found no suspicious circumstances despite locals complaining of two previous fires and ongoing suspect behaviour in and around their block of flats.