Margaret Ramsay 60, Paul Gibson 31, and David Gibson 30, were awoken in the middle of the night by emergency services banging on their door as a blaze erupted across their landing.
News Iona Young News Reporter and Jacob Farr 17:10, 16 Apr 2025
An Scots family have slammed Edinburgh Council after they were told to return to their flat less than 24 hours after a blazing inferno tore through their neighbour's home.
Margaret Ramsay 60, Paul Gibson 31, and David Gibson 30, from Edinburgh were woken in the middle of the night by emergency services banging on their door as a blaze erupted across their landing.
The family stood outside their Torrance Park council home as they watched the building fill with smoke, as flames lashed out of their neighbour's windows. Residents reported seeing the glare light up the whole area at around 1.20am on Tuesday April 15.
Margaret, who has rheumatoid arthritis and COPD, had to leave the home in her pyjamas and dressing gown while her sons were also left with nothing but their nightwear. They were sent to the Caledonian Hotel where they claim the council spent £250 on rooms for the family.
Margaret's son David explained the council told them at 10am on Tuesday morning they would not be able to return to their home for at least a week and as a result they would be put up in a Travelodge at Hermiston Gait.
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But by 1pm in the afternoon they were told to return to their flat as it had now been deemed safe.
He told Edinburgh Live: "They phoned us yesterday to say they would put us up in a Travelodge at Edinburgh Park for a week but by 1pm they said we were ok to go back in.
"My mum has COPD and they have put her back into this place. When we got evacuated we had what we were wearing in bed, no bank cards or anything. We were moved to the Caledonian for the night but we had no money or a way for paying anything.
“We were walking about in shorts and dressing gowns while folk were kicking about in kilts. When we came back in we had to clean everything down ourselves, we never got any help."
He continued: "“We had to sleep in here overnight, the floors still had a thick layer of soot over them. We are wanting out of here until the damage is fixed.
“It is not suitable for my mum to be in here until a clean is done. We need to get somewhere else as every cupboard, dish, piece of furniture is covered in soot.
“Last night I had my bedroom window open but at about 3am I was freezing so I had to close it. Within minutes I was coughing and couldn’t breathe and had to open it again.
“We just need to be in alternative accommodation until this is decorated and fixed. I don’t know how you can go from telling us we cannot return for a week because it is not safe, to we can now move back in within a matter of hours.”
The council has since apologised and have agreed to carry out an urgent clean and will redecorate the flat after being approached by Edinburgh Live. The family will also be relocated to temporary accommodation while the repairs are carried out.
Housing, homelessness and fair work convener Lezley Marion Cameron said: “I’m saddened and disappointed to learn about David, Paul, and Margaret’s experience on top of what will have been a traumatic event for them.
“Council officers have conveyed apologies to the family, and work is underway to ensure their home is thoroughly cleaned and decorated.”
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