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The council that could demolish all its tower blocks

When Anna Martin moved into her smart new home on the 13th floor of Annick Court in Irvine with her toddler son Ian, the mini skirt was everywhere, Ted Heath was Prime Minister and, across the pond, killer Charles Manson had just been convicted. The year was 1971 and the future suddenly seemed so much brighter for the single mum.

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“I’d been living with my mum and dad up to that point and I’d have taken anywhere decent really to get a place of my own. But I was delighted to get the high rise flats. In fact I couldn’t believe my luck. Everyone wanted to move in here when they first went up,” says Ms Martin, 80.

 

“Way back then I loved having a home here, and actually I still do. That’s why I don’t want to leave. Well, that and the fact all my memories are here.”

 

Forty-seven years after she moved in, Ms Martin’s home is one of 369 flats in North Ayrshire which could potentially face demolition. Erected in the late 1950s, it is acknowledged [by who?] that the five 13-storey high tower blocks in Irvine – Annick, Afton, Doon, Garnock and Lugton Courts - and a further two similar blocks in the former popular seaside resort of Saltcoats, passed their ‘sell-by date’ long ago. But it is the Grenfell Tower tragedy that has brought this fact to the attention of council bosses [how?] – to the extent it has prompted them to consider tearing all seven blocks down and re-housing the residents in modern, low-rise accommodation.

 

This is despite the fact the Ayrshire flats have pebbledash on their exterior – rather than cladding. The Irvine and Saltcoats blocks did have coloured panelling on their exterior in the past but that was removed over a decade ago.

 

Earlier this month – April 3 – housing officers, on behalf of North Ayrshire Council’s Tenant Participation team, began knocking on every front door in the flats in a bid to find out how residents felt about the possibility of their homes being razed to the ground. Most of the tenants were interviewed on a one-to-one basis within the first fortnight but the housing team still want to speak to those who missed their visit because, say bosses, they are keen to engage as many tenants as possible in what will prove to be a major – and expensive - decision.

The housing visits, beginning in April, mark the beginning of a consultation programme which offers the choice of three options for householders – one of which is to place a state-of-the-art sprinkler system, along with regular maintenance, in all seven blocks at a cost of £22.5m over 25 years.

 

The second option is to raze all seven flats and replace with low-rise housing on the existing site and elsewhere in the town. This would be at a cost of £22.1m, with all homes timetabled for completion by 2023.

 

The third option is to raze the Irvine flats (where all the residents are social housing tenants) and keep the two Saltcoats blocks (where around one third of flats are privately owned - some rented out - and which could delay proceedings and cause complications). The anticipated cost is £14.4m.

 

No decision will be taken until councillors hear the results of the consultation report this summer.

 

At its annual budget meeting in March 2018 the Council agreed a housing revenue budget of £48m and a total housing capital investment programme of £53m. It says housing is a key priority, with plans to build a further 1,000 new homes over the next four years.

 

Council Leader Joe Cullinane is keen to stress that discussions with the high rise tenants will form a major part of the engagement exercise to decide on the future of the high rise flats. [does he have anything to say about fire safety?]

 

“Our residents are at the heart of these proposals and we are very keen to find out their thoughts and answer any questions they may have,” he says.

 

“I believe this is a fantastic opportunity to change people’s lives for the better and really transform both the Fullarton and Saltcoats communities.”

 

Whatever option is chosen, he insists it will be fully funded from council house rental income and have no impact whatsoever on the council’s revenue or capital budgets.

 

Certainly there are some residents who are concerned about fire safety following Grenfell – and are supportive of demolition.

 

Jack McInnes, 24, who lives in the neighbouring Garnock Court block only moved in to his flat three months ago. He’s in favour of seeing the flats come down.

 

“It’s to do with safety,” he says. “There are only two fire exits for 50+ flats in here. I looked out my window one day last week and saw four fire engines at one of the other blocks.”

 

David English, 35, who lives in the same block as Mr McInnes says fire engines and other emergency service vehicles aren’t an uncommon sight at the flats.

 

“There’s always fire engines and ambulances up here because if the smoke alarm goes off in any of the flats and you don’t pick up the phone the first time the concierge rings to see if you’re ok then they send the fire engine round.

 

“The council talk about fitting sprinklers but where would they put them? It would have to be inside people’s homes because that’s where most fires start. I asked them this at a meeting not that long ago but no-one could give me an answer.”

 

Mr English adds that the council put up posters in the flats at Christmas to reassure residents of their safety. Two weeks ago they installed a new fire alarm box at the entrances. But he doesn’t like the fact there are metal grills with two padlocks covering the windows in the stair landing.

 

“I would like to move,” he said. “But I know a lot of the older ones who live here don’t. They feel safe thanks to the 24 hour concierge unit, knowing that they can always ring for help and that someone will answer. A lot of the older folks can’t get out and about, you see.”

Tommy McGhee, 56, stays on the 13th floor at Lugton Court with his disabled brother. He likes the views and doesn’t mind if the council ends up fitting sprinklers instead. But he knows his brother feels differently and that he would love a garden.

 

“He’s voting for the flats to come down,” he said. “Provided he can come back to the Fullarton area, that is. It’s all he’s ever known really.”

Other residents are more strongly opposed. Joe, (wouldn’t give surname) 53, who lives on the third floor of Lugton Court is a vehement ‘non-mover’ and for him safety is about more than the threat of fire.

 

“It’s the quiet I like here, as well as the safety. There’s only one way in to these flats, and that’s via the front door. I wouldn’t feel so safe in a house with two doors and ground floor windows.”

 

“I’ll be barricading myself in when they come to move me,” he says. “I don’t want to move. I really like living here. I’ve just done my spare room up, paid a fortune on new wallpaper for it. That’ll have been a waste if we have to move.

 

It’s the fact that homes in the Irvine high rise tower blocks have recently had replacement windows installed and others are about to be fitted with new bathrooms, that the news of demolition comes as such a shock to many residents there.

 

Ms Martin and her husband Anthony, 75, are among those to have benefited.

She adds: “One of my neighbours was getting a new bathroom fitted just the other day there and we got one two years ago. The council also gave us a new heater not long ago. What’s the point of the new bathrooms and heaters if they’re just going to knock the flats down?

 

“Another reason I want to stay here is because I have a heart condition. Being 80, I don’t know if I’ll still be around in five years and if I am I can’t imagine what all the upheaval would be like.”

 

Mr Martin adds: “I suppose it would be nice to have something new but there are a lot of feelings and emotions around at the prospect of tearing these flats down – especially amongst older folks like my wife who have lived here for decades.

 

“Personally, I’m just wondering where they’re going to put everybody!”

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