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Following a visit to a resident in an SKDC flat on Commercial Road in December 2022 District Councillor Charmaine Morgan contacted SKDC to raise a concern.
She said ‘”It is clearly a poorly designed building which the current administration has inherited. It has an external stairwell comprised of concrete steps and thin metal hand rail.
“In freezing winter conditions the steps were treacherous and hand rail difficult to grip because of the cold. In the hot summer it would be scorchingly hot.
“The stairwell is completely exposed to the elements. All residents, particularly the most vulnerable are at risk every time they leave their home in extreme weather.”
Cllr Morgan raised the safety issue with senior skdc housing officers and cabinet members.
She said “I received a recent reassurance that Environsk are gritting the stairwell.
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“I was not convinced this is happening after my first visit and so checked the stairs again 24 January at 21:50. The weather forecast was freezing. Ice was clearly forming on the landing with no grit in sight.
“An appropriate surface treatment at the very least is needed to improve resident safety. In the meantime I am working with skdc to move a vulnerable resident on an upper floor virtually trapped in their home. I have also asked the council to replace eyesore temporary doors left in situ for over a year.
“Our residents deserve better than this’.”
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Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, Cllr Robert Reid, said: “We are already considering ways to improve the safety of these outdoor steps as we recognise there is room for improvement.
“In the meantime, gritting here is contracted to ESK and we will monitor during future cold spells to ensure the safety of residents at this accommodation.”
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