Demolition could leave us homeless say OAPs

Thomas Barker (69) and his 81-year-old partner, former TA major Robert William Graham, live in the Graham House tower block on Seafar’s Berryhill Road, which is to be demolished in three years’ time. The couple have been in Cumbernauld for over 30 years.

Thomas said: “Robert is in failing health and has problems with his mobility so we really need to relocate to a ground floor flat. I’ve been asking Sanctuary about this but been told there are no ground floor flats available. However I recently spoke to a neighbour who told me they had turned down a ground floor flat because it was not what he wanted, so there must be some flats available. I don’t know what will happen to us one isn’t found.”

A Sanctuary Cumbernauld spokesman said: “Mr Barker expressed an interest in being rehoused at Seafar House but failed to return a formal application to us before the 1st March deadline.

“We did receive an application from Mr Barker on 20th June, more than 15 weeks after the deadline, by which point most Seafar House properties had been allocated. We had more applicants than there will be flats at Seafar House and – in line with our agreed high-rise rehousing strategy – the remaining block residents in Allanfauld Road had priority. As might be expected, Mr Barker and his partner were not the only residents disappointed on this occasion.

“Mr Barker and his partner are now on our reserve list for Seafar House, despite their late application. They may qualify for a ground-floor flat should one become available.”