A local council candidate has urged the SNP-led Scottish Government to delay the implementation of rules that could require homeowners to spend hundreds of pounds on new smoke alarms.
Graeme Downie, Scottish Labour candidate for West Fife & Coastal Villages, has urged a delay in the implementation of the regulations requiring all homes to have an inter-linked system of smoke alarms and heat detectors so that financial support can be made available for those who might struggle to afford such a high cost.
Mr. Downie is concerned that many of those affected do not know what they have to do and could struggle to afford such an expense with cost of living rises already having an effect. Furthermore, he says a shortage of supply could stop even those who can afford from complying in time, putting their home insurance at risk were their property to be damaged by fire in the meantime.
Commenting on the policy, Graeme Downie, Scottish Labour candidate for West Fife & Coastal Villages, said:
“With energy prices increasing and Tory tax rises on the horizon for working people, and with local suppliers telling me of a shortage of units, the SNP must think again about the best way to implement this important policy.”
“I want to see a delay so we can work together to put in place financial support for people who will struggle to afford this equipment. If we don’t provide that support, we risk creating a group whose houses are less safe and could find it difficult to claim on their home insurance in the event of a fire.”
“Everyone wants to get this fixed so let’s have a short delay, sit round a table and figure out the best way to support people and get this change implemented properly.”