“Don’t give up!”
That’s the message to Aberdeen families Trapped by Raac, from none other than Sir Alan Bates – the man who took on the Post Office after the Horizon scandal.
At The P&J’s Question Time event – with Torry Raac homeowners and politicians present – the ongoing concrete crisis, lack of movement from those who have the power to help, was once again compared to the Post Office scandal.
Aberdeen City Council co-leader Christian Allard also said in a previous interview with The Press and Journal that without a Raac fund being established by the UK Government, it will be a scandal like that of the Post Office, “where people died before seeing justice served.”
‘You must not go away… keep going,’ says Bates to Aberdeen families
With just hours to go until the homeowners’ Raac petition closes, we approached the former subpostmaster now immortalised in the TV show Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
After explaining the desperate situation Aberdeen families – and others across Scotland – face due to unstable, cheap concrete used in local authority housing schemes – we asked if he had a word of encouragement for those fighting for justice.
“There’s a lot wrong in this day and age, but stick with it,” Alan encouraged.
“Don’t give up! It’s as simple as that.
“People hope you will go away, but you mustn’t! Stick with it.
“It took 20 years for us, so I know it’s not easy.”
Like the Horizon scandal – Balnagask victims ‘are on the brink’
Sir Alan was knighted in 2024 for his services to justice after losing £65,000 in savings and his business along with it.
He was one of hundreds wrongly accused of mishandling money at post office branches.
It’s a figure not dissimilar to how much many Torry homeowners could lose if they accept cut-price Aberdeen City Council offers on their homes.
And like the Post Office scandal, it’s a toll driving those affected to the brink.
“I’ve got so much sympathy for everyone in this fight,” he added.
“I wish I was able to help everyone. There are so many injustices right now. I have to stay laser-focused on our fight, which is still ongoing.
“But yes, tell them not to give up!”
Our petition calls for fair prices for homeowners who are being asked to sell their properties back to Aberdeen City Council ahead of demolition and a future public enquiry.
To get a reply from Westminster, it needs to tally 10,000 signatures by midnight on Tuesday June 17.
‘We won’t go without a fight,’ say homeowners buoyed by Bates’ words
Lynn Winstanley, a homeowner of a Raac-riddled Balnagask property, spoke at Friday night’s question time event. Overcome with emotion, editor Craig Walker had to finish her prepared statement as she broke down in tears.
On hearing Alan Bates encouraged the Torry Community Raac Campaign to keep going, she said she was delighted to get the last-minute boost.
“What an incredible message to get. Especially from someone who knows about injustice and how hard it is to be trapped in it without an end in sight.
“Thank you Alan for your encouragement.
“Like I said at Question Time, we won’t be going without a fight. It’s killing us, but we won’t give up.”
There’s just hours to sign the petition. Click below to add your name.
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