FURIOUS residents from two blocks of flats say they are fed up living in ‘ disgusting slums’ in the east end of Greenock.

The Tele was inundated with calls, emails and online comments from readers after Greenock man Brian Taggart dubbed flats on Blairmore Road, where his frail mum Helen Taggart lives, as the ‘the worst close in Scotland’.

A succession of residents came forward to back his demand for urgent action over the condition of the building, as well as another block of flats in nearby Kilmacolm Road.

One of them, tenant Dorothy McIntyre, inset, who lives in Blairmore Road with her 14-year-old son, told the Tele: “I feel like I live in a slum.

“I’m embarrassed when anyone comes up to visit me because of the state of the close, it’s filthy.

“Something needs to be done about it.”

Dorothy, 46, who works in home care, added that she does not feel safe.

She added: “I have ongoing problems with anti-social behaviour.

“Me and my son had a sleepless night on Thursday into Friday morning as I heard what I thought sounded like an explosion just before midnight.

“I then discovered that someone had put my downstairs neighbour’s window in.

“The police came out but the window wasn’t boarded up so I spent the night worrying about it.

“A lot of young people also hang about in the close drinking.

“I worry about the safety of my son.”

Dorothy’s neighbour Andy Sweeney, who is a homeowner, is also livid about the situation.

He says the building he lives in is so bad that it should be flattened.

The 62-year-old said: “Without any warning or discussions with us, I got a letter from River Clyde Homes just before Christmas saying that I would have to pay £3,763 for repairs to the roof and the gutters.

“We pay £120 a year in factoring charges so we shouldn’t have to pay for it.

“The money would be better spent knocking these tenements down and building new homes.”

Carol Donnelly, who has lived in her Kilmacolm Road flat for the past 21 years, also feels that her close is one of the ‘worst in Scotland’.

She said: “I feel like I live in a slum - it’s a dump.

“It’s embarrassing if you bring anyone to your home, as the close is disgusting

“I’ve tried my best to maintain a nice close but you get no help.

“It’s got to the point where you paint your own wee bit but what’s the use as it’s crumbling constantly?

“It’s a shame as there are lots of decent people living in a rundown area.”

The care worker says she has complained repeatedly about flooding outside her front door as well as dampness and poor heating inside her property.

She has also had to put up with anti-social behaviour as there is an empty flat below her property which is used as a drinking den.

Carol added: “It’s so bad that my young grandchildren, who are four and five, don’t want to come up and stay with me, which really hurt me.

“They are frightened of the close and would also hear noises from the empty flat underneath where the kids drink.

“I don’t go and shout at them because I’m frightened they would lash out.

“So I’m left living in fear.”

Greenock based MSP Stuart McMillan has taken the residents’ concerns up with social landlord River Clyde Homes.

He says bosses at the housing association have confirmed they will carry out repairs in April but expressed surprise about the amount of time taken to schedule them.

Mr McMillan said: “I am content that basic repairs are going to take place soon but have to question why it has taken RCH until this time before these repairs are to happen.

“Basic repairs should be a constant operation and I hope that when these works are complete, the North Maukinhill area will be considered for further improvement works.”

The MSP added: “I do appreciate the job RCH inherited was extremely challenging due to years of a lack of investment by the many councils beforehand.

“RCH have made improvements across Inverclyde but clearly they still have a lot of work to do.”

Housing association insist they are ‘keen to upgrade’

TODAY River Clyde Homes sought to respond to the residents’ concerns.

Fiona Campbell, their head of business resilience, said: “The condition of some common closes where there is joint property ownership (i.e. there are private owners) is of concern to River Clyde Homes and we share the frustrations of our tenants who rightly expect a higher environmental standard.

“Unfortunately, we cannot carry out any works to improve such areas to ensure our own standards are met unless we have the full support and co-operation of the other owners.

"We are currently undertaking a survey of common closes across our housing stock.

“Where an area falls below standard and we have full ownership of the block, we will carry out improvement works.

“If a block is in shared ownership and we have a factoring responsibility we will carry out necessary statutory repairs and bill the owners accordingly.

“We will also facilitate consultation with those private homeowners to agree an improvement programme with their co-operation. Similarly, in the cases where we are joint owners in a block, but do not act as the factor, we will consult with the other owners over raising the standards as we are always supportive of improving the condition of properties for our customers and the wider community.”

She continued: “At the blocks at Blairmore/Kilmacolm Roads, which share a communal entrance, we are joint owners in the properties and have a factoring responsibility.

“We are keen to upgrade these buildings and, as Mr Sweeney points out, we have been in negotiations with homeowners to improve and upgrade properties and common areas.  

"A sufficient number of owners have agreed to participate in the works to bring the building to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.  

"These include: re-roofing and the renewal of gutters and downpipes; replacement close windows, a close lighting upgrade and repairs to the communal walkway and stairs where required.

“We will require agreement from all owners to carry out the paint works to the close after the investment works are completed. We have been made aware of anti-social activities at the blocks.

“One of our officers is visiting Mrs McIntyre today to discuss her concerns and to ensure the vacant flat is secure.

“We will work with our partners at Police Scotland and Inverclyde Council to tackle anti-social behaviour and we would encourage customers to continue to report incidents.”