Fire safety scheme looks set to be delayed
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A scheme to fit all homes with interlinked fire and carbon monoxide alarms by February 2021 looks set to be delayed after a backlash.
Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss, who is Highland Council's strategic lead for fire and police, was among those who branded the plan "impractical".
The proposed changes to the legislation were mooted after the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower block of flats in London in 2017 which claimed the lives of 72 people.
Householders in Caithness learned of the plans when leaflets about the new rules dropped through letterboxes this week.
Mr Reiss would like to see the deadline put back by "at least a year or two" because of the coronavirus crisis.
Under the new rules, Scottish homes must have a ceiling-mounted smoke alarm in the living room, hallways and landings, as well as a heat alarm in the kitchen. The alarm system must be interlinked. Carbon monoxide alarms should be fitted by all fixed combustion appliances such as boilers and wood burners.
Home owners or landlords would have to fund the cost of the systems, adding more pressure onto already stretched household budgets.
The Scottish Government said the legislation would save lives but yesterday it looked like the growing pressure was likely to have an effect, as it said it was "considering a delay in the deadline" to carry out the work.
Mr Reiss, a Thurso and north-west Caithness councillor, said: "I hope the deadline will be delayed. It is not practical to have engineers in people's homes to fit these systems when we have problems with Covid-19."
He stressed it could cost several hundred pounds to get these alarms fitted.
"Many people are worried about redundancy or reduced income because of the coronavirus. Morale is low at the moment and this will just be another worry and another stress which people could do without.
"I fully support anything that improves fire safety but feel this measure at this time is impractical and a little bit over the top. I hope the government will look at this again in light of the coronavirus."
He added: "This legislation was drawn up pre-Covid but the timing is now wrong and the Scottish Government should relent and use common sense regards fire safety. People wonder why there is the need for compulsion. They think they should be trusted to use their common sense."
Far north MSP Gail Ross has also taken up the issue with the government. The Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP said: "I am aware of the leaflet and the policy which is causing concern to many constituents. I have been in direct contact with the Scottish Government and I would hope that they will see a way to delay the implementation of the policy."
Age Concern – the UK's leading charity for older people – has called for a delay in the deadline saying that there are "considerable concerns" over affordability and an increased risk of scams.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross was also unhappy with the proposed timescale and has urged the Scottish Government to delay the deadline for installation until 2022.
A decision over a delay to the scheme was expected to be made shortly.
