Edinburgh Northern MSP responds to Bonnington Bond cladding news

Responding to the news that residents at the Bonnington Bond flats on Breadalbane Street in Edinburgh have been urged to leave their homes due to a ‘high fire risk’ arising from the building’s cladding and insulation, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh Northern Sanne Dijkstra-Downie said: 

“I am very concerned by the situation at the Bonnington Bond flats, especially when this was the site of a terrible fire only two years ago. 

“I will be working closely with Persimmon Homes and the council to understand plans for temporary accommodation and remediation work to address the fire risks. 

“This news comes just weeks after we marked the 9th anniversary of the Grenfell Tower disaster. In that context, it is hugely worrying that the Scottish Government have only removed cladding from 3 of the almost 1,000 buildings in Scotland suspected to be at risk from it. That simply isn't acceptable. 

“People are in fear of their lives and just want to know that their homes are safe. That is why my party will keep up the pressure on the government to urgently step up the pace of cladding checks and removals.”