SANDBANK’S Finbracken housing development does still have a viable future, ACHA says - despite an online poll which shows that over 100 people think it should be pulled down.

 

Argyll and Bute councillor Ron Simon had called for radical action - demolition if necessary - at the development after hearing the plight of residents who had been complaining about dampness problems in their home for several months.
However, local resident John Morris has said that such suggestions are less than helpful. He points out that constructive solutions are needed to help the housing association, which is already battling against funding constraints and dealing with problems inherited after the housing stock transfer from the local authority in November 2006.
Mr Morris is an ACHA area committee member but contacted the Standard in his own right, and is not speaking on behalf of the housing association or its area committee.
He said: “Cllr Simon is quick to suggest the displacement of 30 families to the housing list by his recommendation to demolish Finbracken.
“This housing was constructed by the old county council and not by ACHA. Cllr Simon is also aware that with the present constraints on Housing Association Grant funds, imposed by the government he supports, it is impossible to build a replacement for Finbracken - so why suggest the impossible?”
He continued: “The floor areas of the flats are generous by present day standards and have stunning views towards the Holy Loch. This may be why the development has a high occupancy rate of 94 per cent.
“ACHA is committed to providing new kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems in the current two-year investment programme and, on completion, the properties will be fully compliant with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard - following considerable investment by ACHA.”
Mr Morris concluded: “Yes, ACHA is aware of the problems, but these are considered to be surmountable. We all know that Argyll communities have insufficient housing to let, so we need positive solutions - better still, the support of Cllr Simon in gaining the funding needed to provide housing in the community he represents.”
The fact that Finbracken has a high occupancy level was also emphasised by ACHA’s chief executive, Alastair MacGregor, when asked for his views on a poll on the Standard website where, out of 160 unique votes, 138 (86 per cent) agreed that the development should be pulled down.
“With respect to the online poll, personally I am not surprised, coming on the back of an overwhelmingly negative story published by the Standard,” he said.
“This omitted the fact that 94 per cent of our properties in Finbracken are occupied and that investment will be going in to the properties in the form of gas central heating systems during 2010/2011.”
The situation at Finbracken is understood to have been discussed at an ACHA area committee meeting on Wednesday, and Cllr Ron Simon also contacted the Standard to advise that he would be meeting with Mr MacGregor later this week with a view to finding solutions for the Sandbank scheme.
He said: “There is a fundamental problem with the design of the building, but I accept that there are other measures being considered which might help to alleviate some of the problems being experienced by residents.
“ACHA claims it still has a viable future, but this can only be if they address these core problems.
“For example, installing new gas central heating is all very well, but its success depends on other factors such as boiler ventilation and insulation, or it won’t solve anything - and might in fact exacerbate some issues.”
He defended his call for demolition if necessary, saying: “Financially, it might be the case that radical action would be a spend to save option. While the fabric of the building is as it is, it will be demanding more investment all the time.”
He acknowledged that demand for housing in Argyll and Bute is considerable, but added: “The demand has to be addressed somehow, but we do also have to give people housing of the appropriate quality.
“I fully understand the issues of costs and displacement. But the fact remains that something much more radical has to be done to solve the problems at Finbracken other than simply giving it a coat of paint.”
Cllr Simon concluded: “I will continue to work closely with ACHA on issues like fuel poverty, housing design and so on, in order that we come closer to meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.
“I am sure that this is an ambition that ACHA shares - even if we have different ideas about how we get there.”
Cllr Simon was due to meet with ACHA’s chief executive as the Standard went to press on Thursday. At this meeting, he also planned to raise the issue of Finbracken tenants Mr and Mrs Semple, whose situation was covered in the Standard on February 5.
The Semples are keen to be moved elsewhere, citing Mrs Semple’s continuing ill health as a reason, and saying that this is exacerbated by the extremely damp conditions within their home.
It is understood that they have been placed on a transfer list, but no indication of when a move is likely can be given.

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