Published: Wednesday, 16th July, 2008 09:30
Fire block anger
By Julie Gilbert
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RESIDENTS of a fire damaged block of flats are angry about the time it has taken to clean up and repair the building.
Three weeks after a serious fire, fuming tenants say they are still waiting for their smoke-blackened building to be properly washed out and repaired by West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC).
Occupants are living with a filthy stairwell and reduced security, as the block’s back door cannot be locked.
Loose wiring is also causing concern.
Jim Clark, 64, is becoming uneasy at the lack of security at the Onslow Road flats in Drumry, and feels it leaves his neighbours and himself vulnerable to intruders.
He said: “We’re open to kids coming in at night and to vandalism.
“There are wires they can pull down — they could start another fire.
“There are a lot of teenagers hanging about here especially with the schools being off.”
As well as being concerned at a lack of security, Jim feels WDC’s attempt to clean the flats has not made any difference.
He said: “Everything’s still all black.
“They sent guys out with a bottle of fairy liquid and cold water.
“It needs steamed off.
“They’re making a bigger mess of it.”
Jim says he and his neighbours are fed up with “half-hearted” attempts at cleaning up.
He told the Post that conditions on the ground floor, near to the where the fire originated are particularly bad.
Jim said: “The bottom of the close is a mess.
“There’s a young boy in a wheelchair staying there who’s fed up phoning up and phoning up.
“There’s no point phoning up. Nobody seems bothered.”
He added: “You can still smell the smoke.”
A WDC spokeswoman said: “The smoke damage was as severe as we have seen in any common close and it was quite a task getting it cleaned to an acceptable standard.
“A council representative visited on Thursday and instructed the contractor to clean the close again from top to bottom.”
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