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Ross welcomes delay in fire alarms plan


By Gordon Calder

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North MSP Gail Ross has welcomed plans to delay by a year a scheme to fit all homes with interlinked fire and carbon monoxide alarms.

The Scottish Government responded after a backlash from politicians and campaign groups over the proposed installation date of February 2021. The government is now to ask the Scottish Parliament for a delay of 12 months because of the coronavirus.

Gail Ross backs the delay in installing fire alarms. Picture: DGS
Gail Ross backs the delay in installing fire alarms. Picture: DGS

Mrs Ross, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, backs the move. She said: "Fire safety is an absolute priority for all of us, and these improved regulations will mean that everyone in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross will benefit from the same level of protection, whether they own their home or rent from a social or private landlord.

"However, given the impact of Covid-19, and the difficulties this legislation was likely to cause for people seeking to install new alarms, it’s welcome that the Scottish Government has listened to concerns and decided to ask the Scottish Parliament to delay the deadline by 12 months.

"As MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross I will continue to look closely at ensuring people have the support, information and advice they need to make changes in advance of the new standards coming into force in February 2022."

Mrs Ross said the Scottish Government has made over £15 million of loan funding available for social landlords to procure and install the alarms which should ensure that social tenants are safe in their homes. It has also provided additional funding of £870,000 in each year for the last two years to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to support its home safety visits for vulnerable and high-risk people.

The Scottish Government confirmed it is intending to delay the scheme by a year due to "the practical difficulties" of trying to instal the system during the Covid-19 crisis.

Kevin Stewart, minister for local government and housing, stressed fire safety is "an absolute priority" for the Scottish Government but added: "Given the impact of Covid-19, and the difficulties this is likely to create for people seeking to install new smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, we have listened to concerns and decided to ask the Scottish Parliament to delay implementation.

"Our focus will be on supporting householders to ensure satisfactory fire alarms are installed so we can improve the safety of their homes."

As reported in this week's Caithness Courier, local councillor Matthew Reiss, who is Highland Council's strategic lead for fire and police, branded the plan "impractical". He called for a delay of "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.

The proposed changes were mooted after the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower block of flats in London in 2017 which claimed the lives of 72 people.


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