Glasgow residents forced from their homes due to an unsafe tower are still paying for temporary accommodation and have been unable to pick up essentials over a month later.
Around 100 households living close to Trinity Tower in the Park Circus area were forced to flee during high winds caused by Storm Malik over fears that the structure could've collapsed.
They've now been living in and paying for temporary accommodation for nearly 40 days, while also paying bills for their homes.
Residents were given just 15 minutes to collect their belongings on the night of the evacuation and haven't been allowed to return since due to the instability of the tower.
As there is no physical damage to their homes, insurers are refusing to pay for their temporary accommodation leaving dozens massively out of pocket.
The Scottish Government has been urged to provide financial support similar to that given to those forced to flee their homes due to the Glasgow School of Art fire.
Back in February, Nicola Sturgeon said the government would 'liaise with Glasgow City Council and offer any reasonable support that we can to rectify the situation and get people back into their houses as soon as possible'.
Reginald Clayton, chairperson of the Park Action Group for Evacuees, said the situation is causing a 'massive amount of stress financially, mentally and physically' for those affected.
He explained: "We've been told that the tower could collapse at any second which is why we're not allowed in to pick up anything from our homes, not even medication or paperwork.
"The council has said it could be two to three months before the tower is made safe but there's little information to support that.
"This evacuation is affecting over 100 households. They're all having to pay for accommodation which is totalling up to thousands of pounds a month. Some people are in Airbnb's, others have had to move in with family in other parts of the country and there are tenants that can't afford to pay two rents.
"We've been speaking with local councillors and MSPs but there's no indication of when we'll be let back in. Our lives are basically in limbo.
"The tower is a beautiful and important part of Glasgow's heritage and we want to see it maintained. We don't understand how it's been allowed to deteriorate to this point."
An update by the council earlier this month explained that work to stabilise the tower is 'progressing' and designers are exploring 'technical solutions' to stabilise the structure.
A Glasgow Council spokesperson said: “We have communicated regularly with residents affected by the exclusion zone around this dangerous building, and will continue to do so whenever we have information we can provide an update on.
"We absolutely understand how difficult it is for people to be out of their homes for an extended period and how important it is for them to receive information, and it should be understood that the timescale of 2-3 months was given by the owners’ contractor once they had confirmed the works they would have to carry out to make the building safe.
"We relayed this information to affected residents, and continue to work with the contractors to ensure people can return home as quickly as possible.
"It is not council policy to provide financial support to anyone who must be evacuated for safety reasons or due to fire. This is a matter for residents and their insurers although the council did support many households with temporary accommodation after the evacuation of the building. Council tax will not be paid by residents during the period they are out of their properties. Residents have been given (risk-assessed) access to collect essential items. The condition and maintenance of the Trinity tower is a matter for the owners, and work instructed by them was already underway when our Building Standards team was alerted by their contractors, who were concerned about its condition.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson added : “The Scottish Government is concerned for those whose lives have been disrupted following the evacuation of homes in late January. Glasgow City Council are in contact with those affected and are working with the owners’ consultants to reach a suitable outcome
“The Scottish Government’s main concern is the safety of people, and the responsibility for dangerous buildings enforcement lies with the local authority who have the expertise to assess and manage situations such as that at Trinity Tower.”
