Scottish Government ministers are to ask MSPs to delay new regulations on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms due to the impact of Covid-19.

I posted on 12 October that legislation is currently due to come into effect on 1 February 2021 requiring all properties to have smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms installed in certain rooms.

The first most people knew about this is when we received an advertising leaflet through the post. I contacted North East MSP Mike Rumbles who relayed the concerns of many constituents to the local government and housing minister. Other parliamentarians also voiced similar concerns.

Mike felt that these changes are “an unnecessary financial burden for many homeowners and they could easily be put off until things are back to normal. It is also a concern for households that are trying to isolate and may put vulnerable people at increased risk of transmission.”

Now the minister has said that while fire safety is an “absolute priority,” given the impact of the coronavirus pandemic “and the difficulties this is likely to create for people seeking to install new smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, we have listened to concerns and decided to ask the Scottish Parliament to delay implementation.”

Good decision.

There is more in the Evening Express: https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/aberdeen-msp-hits-out-at-scottish-governments-new-smoke-alarm-legislation-saying-changes-could-easily-be-delayed/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social