Call for national fund follows submission of new research dossier on building safety risks

A UK CAMPAIGN group representing homeowners affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) has formally submitted new evidence to Welsh and Scottish ministers, urging coordinated pressure on the UK Government to take responsibility for what it describes as a national building safety crisis.

The UK RAAC Campaign Group has written to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant MS, and the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan MSP, enclosing a detailed research dossier and an open letter calling for a UK-wide funding solution.

The correspondence, dated Tuesday (Dec 16), was also copied to the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens MP, and the Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander MP.

In the letter, the group argues that the widespread use of RAAC in housing stock represents a historic failure rooted in decisions taken before devolution, and that devolved governments should not be left to deal with the financial consequences alone.

The campaign group says homeowners affected by RAAC are facing uncertainty, financial hardship and, in some cases, displacement from their homes, with remediation costs running into tens of thousands of pounds.

The letter sets out two remedies being sought by affected residents: either compensation based on pre-RAAC property valuations, or fully funded remediation or roof replacement carried out without placing households into debt.

The submission is accompanied by research compiled on behalf of the campaign group which examines the historical promotion and use of RAAC and related building systems across the UK. The research highlights warnings dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, missed opportunities to identify the material during housing surveys and stock transfers, and what it describes as inconsistent approaches to inspection and identification across the UK.

The campaign group also raises concerns about what it says is under-identification of RAAC in England compared with Wales and Scotland, arguing that differences in regulatory oversight may be distorting the true national scale of the issue.

In its letter, the group calls for the creation of a UK-wide National RAAC Fund to ensure parity of support for affected homeowners regardless of location, as well as a full public inquiry into the use, regulation and identification of RAAC in residential buildings.

Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, said the material had been submitted to ministers to ensure the evidence was formally recorded and considered.

The campaign group has asked for acknowledgment of receipt and an indication of next steps from the Welsh and Scottish Governments.

The Welsh Government has previously acknowledged the presence of RAAC in some residential buildings and public estates, while ministers in both Wales and Scotland have faced growing pressure from affected residents and petitions committees to clarify long-term support arrangements.

No response had been issued by ministers at the time of publication.

Welsh Conservatives say agreement means higher taxes, while Labour defends spending priorities

THE LEADER of the Welsh Conservatives has used First Minister’s Questions to criticise the latest budget agreement between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru, arguing it underlines what he described as an ongoing political alignment between the two parties.

At the Senedd on Tuesday, Darren Millar MS challenged the First Minister to explain why successive budgets supported by Plaid Cymru have, in his view, resulted in higher taxes and what he characterised as wasteful public spending.

Mr Millar said Plaid Cymru’s decision to back Labour’s budget proposals served as a warning to voters ahead of the Senedd elections expected next May.

He told the chamber that the Welsh Conservatives would instead pursue tax cuts, funded by reducing spending on what he described as non-essential projects. These included overseas offices, international environmental schemes and what he called a “bloated” Welsh Civil Service.

Commenting after FMQs, the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS said: “The Welsh Labour Government’s budget, backed again by Plaid, will mean higher taxes to pay for more wasteful projects.

“Plaid and Labour’s stitch-up serves as a reminder that a vote for Plaid is just a vote for Labour and more of the same failures.

“In May, Wales will face a choice: more of the same with Plaid and Labour or real change, a strong team and a credible Welsh Conservative plan to fix Wales.”

Labour ministers have previously defended cooperation agreements with Plaid Cymru, saying they provide stability and allow the Welsh Government to pass budgets that fund public services such as health, education and local government. Plaid Cymru has also argued that its support has secured additional investment in areas including social care, housing and the Welsh language.

The Welsh Government has maintained that spending decisions reflect long-term priorities for Wales and that budget pressures are exacerbated by inflation and wider UK economic conditions.

Assault left victim with bruising to her elbows

A PEMBROKESHIRE HGV driver has been sentenced after dragging a woman off a sofa by her ankles, causing bruising to her elbows.

Paul Frank returned to his home in Haverfordwest on June 13 to find the woman sitting on his settee.

“He was verbally aggressive, grabbed her by her legs and pulled her off the couch,” Crown Prosecutor Ryan Colamazza told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

“He grabbed her by her ankles, which resulted in bruising to her elbows.”

When interviewed by police, Frank, 56, of St Margarets Close, Haverfordwest, made a full admission to the assault.

Representing himself in court, he told magistrates he had previously asked the woman not to attend his property.

“She’d previously accused me of taking her mobile phone, so I didn’t want her in the house,” he said in mitigation. “But when I came home from work and saw her there, for some reason I just lost it and pulled her off the sofa.”

Frank pleaded guilty to assault by beating and was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order. He must complete 50 hours of unpaid work and pay £85 in court costs along with a £114 surcharge.