I AM surprised at the lack of response to Ian Turner’s letter (October 12) regarding the unknown legislation which requires every type of dwelling to be equipped with fire, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by February 1, 2021. I only heard about this the other day (outside a pub – when that was possible). I know of no communication of any kind being received from Government. Today, however, a leaflet bearing the Scottish Government logo came in the post. On inspection it appears not to be a Scottish Government issue but from a company called aico from Oswestry. It shows a woman pouring cereal into a little girl’s bowl while a pot in the background flares up dramatically. It is entitled “We Don’t Want To Alarm You But”. It seems that they do want to alarm us – in all senses of the word.
So to date there has been virtually no effort by the Scottish Government to inform home owners, renters and other occupiers about this legislation. Does anyone in government seriously expect this requirement to be met? What planet do they inhabit? On reading the legislation, it refers to the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017. This is a spurious connection but if anyone thought it to be a meaningful one, why has it taken well over three years to act – leaving the public just over three months to meet its target? In this connection, Patricia Dewar Gibb’s letter (October 13) is timely. She is unable to get tradespeople to carry out domestic works. How are the old couple five up in a tenement going to fare? And I haven’t mentioned the pandemic.
To forestall the dawn raid on February by fire, smoke and carbon monoxide inspectors, I can advise that I live in a development fully covered, and with a sprinkler system. I just think people should be told. Unreasonable?
Simon Paterson, Glasgow G12.
I HAVE received a leaflet, delivered by post, headed "We don't want to alarm you BUT..... " regarding the legislation regarding fire, smoke and carbon alarms. I made inquiries about the origin of the leaflet. It is from a firm in Shropshire (no firms available in Scotland?) who train installers to fit these alarms. My nearest such installer is apparently seven miles away, although no doubt other installers will come to the fore.
I consulted the Scottish Government website to read the document. It was first published on Monday (October 12) but this is certainly the first I have heard of this and none of the people I have spoken to about it had heard of it either, yet we have only three and a half months to get this done. The website helpfully suggests the cost for an average three-bedroom house should be about £220.
Kathleen Gorrie, Helensburgh.
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