Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference calls for government support for removing dangerous concrete

The Scottish Liberal Democrat autumn conference has today passed a motion calling on the SNP/Green Government to deliver vital funding for local authorities and health boards as they deal with the costs of removing the dangerous concrete RAAC from affected buildings.    

Scottish Liberal Democrat members backed calls on the government to:    

• Provide sufficient funding to enable public sector remedial works to be carried out by local authorities and health boards;    
• Allow local authorities and health boards which have already self-funded remedial works to apply for financial compensation in retrospect.    

West Lothian councillor Sally Pattle, who proposed the motion, said:  

“Local authority and health board budgets are feeling the squeeze, and the presence of RAAC only adds to that pressure.  

“The largest school in my own West Lothian council, St Kentigern's Academy, is riddled with RAAC. The council has now taken the decision to demolish the building and start again to avoid a disaster. This project alone is estimated to be £35m, illustrating the eye-watering costs now facing councils all over the country.  

“Despite this issue being on their radar for at least five years, astonishingly, the SNP have sat on their hands, failing to devise any meaningful or detailed plan of action. Unless the Scottish Government steps up, schools and health boards will have to make cuts elsewhere to balance their budgets.    

“The passing of this motion is a key step in helping communities across Scotland find a way forward.  

“It’s time for the government to listen to Liberal Democrat calls; they need to do the right thing and provide this financial support without delay.”