GRAHAM Huggins, 23 Sydney Street, Arbroath, first reported the problem of chimney stacks at his council home being in a dangerous state in March of this year.
Work to rectify the problem began on November 20 with scaffolding erected at the property. It was during this work that Mr Huggins was alarmed to hear scaffolding poles being dragged across the flat felt-lined roof of his property.
And his fears w
ere realised when at 3.30 a.m. last Sunday morning, November 23, when the smoke alarm in his upstairs hall burst into life. On inspection, Mr Huggins realised that the device had shorted due to water ingress.
He contacted Angus Council's housing department that day but despite feeling some sense of relief at the problem being classified as an 'emergency repair' Mr Huggins was left frustrated after a period of non-action on the leaky roof.
He estimated he had left 11 'phone messages within five days with housing officials, and was further angered when having to constantly repeat the whole problem to staff.
However, by Tuesday there was better news.
He told our reporter: "There's now a waterproof cover on the roof, and it is being successful in keeping rain and snow out, thank goodness. The work started on Monday morning.
"Some of the scaffolding is still sitting on the felt roof, and I assume this will be checked when the chimney repair is finished."
A spokesperson for Angus Council said: "Work is being undertaken at a block of flats in Sidney Street, Arbroath, which involves the reduction in height of a potentially dangerous brick chimney stack. Scaffolding had to be erected over a flat dormer roof to allow for safe working access.
"Unfortunately, the pressure of one part of the scaffold had caused minor leak in this flat roof.
"The contractor was alerted to the problem on Friday, November 28, and repairs were completed on Monday, December 1. A further assessment of the roof will be made once the scaffolding has been removed."
