RESIDENTS evacuated from their homes nearly two weeks ago say they have been unable to retrieve medication, passports and laptops that are locked inside their properties. 

Homeowners in Park Circus are fighting to regain access to their flats, which still hold most of their belongings. 

An emergency move-out was conducted last month after strong winds from Storm Malik battered nearby Trinity College - which is thought to have caused significant damage to the building’s tower. 

Glasgow Times:

Since then, homeowners have been able to enter their homes only once to pack clothes but yesterday, the council said it would consider any future requests to retrieve vital items.

One homeowner, who wished not to be named, said: “They still haven’t started any works and we have asked to get in to get medication, passports and to gain remote access from our computers for work.

“One of us needs tablets for anaemia and I understand they were told to book a doctors appointment instead of being able to just go in and quickly grab them. 

“Another was hung up on when she called to see about getting her passport from her home, so now she is having to communicate through our councillor.

“When we were allowed in the last – and first – time, we were only told to gather as many clothes as we could. We didn’t realise that we wouldn’t be able to get back in again. There wasn’t enough time for packing up our laptops.”

Glasgow Times:

The resident, who speaks on behalf of his neighbours, has warned that some are unable to work due to their equipment being locked inside the West End homes.  “One of our neighbours is a photographer and all of his equipment is locked up in his home”, he said.

“They’re currently unable to work at all because of this and on top of that, they’re paying for a mortgage and now rent on another flat.

“For them to go out and buy new equipment would cost thousands.”

Last week, we told how the residents could wait up to three months before they can move back into their homes as an exclusion zone surrounds the area. 

A letter from Glasgow City Council told the locals that removal of the cordon depends “entirely” on when contractors will be able to complete repairs and stabilisation works. 

But, residents fear this period could last longer as they argue no developments have taken place. 

The homeowner said: “I went up to speak to a security guard and they said that no work has started yet – how are we meant to regain access in three months’ time? We don’t even know the scale of the damages, so what if they are huge? 

“It has become a nightmare, our lives are all over the place. There is somebody else who rented their flat that was unfurnished and as well as still having to pay their rent, they can’t regain access to get all of their and belongings so as they can move elsewhere. 

“The whole thing needs re-thought if we are going to be out of these houses for three months. Currently, our lives feel as though they are at a standstill.”

Glasgow Times:

In the meantime, the evacuees are either staying in rented properties or Airbnbs until they can regain access to their homes. 

The resident added: “Currently, I am renting another flat that is costing us £2500 a month, it really burns a hole in your pocket and there is still a lingering threat that we won’t be insured.”

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “Information on the timescale for the repair works and the implementation of those works should come from the contractor(s) carrying them out.

“Residents have previously been given access to their homes to collect essential items, and subject to safety assessment, further requests for such items will absolutely be considered.”

The Glasgow Times approached contractors Graham and Sibbald for comment.