I have every sympathy for those who will be thousands out of pocket, but hear nothing about the rigour of pre-purchase surveys insisted upon by mortgage lenders.

More decades ago than I care to remember, an acquaintance was turned down by a usurer since his intended purchase in Garthdee was an SSHA property with a steel frame which the surveyor counselled to be at risk of corrosion during the requsted mortgage term. Not one has collapsed yet.

Were the Girdleness properties sufficiently surveyed in advance of purchase to expose the fact that they were constructed from concrete Aero bars? I?d assume that that?s been investigated and ranks closed between the money-lenders and the theodolite-wielders.

I?ll sign the petition and wish good fortune to the exploited and unfortunate.

I blame Thatcher, of course.