Angus Council's Neighbourhood Services convener Jim Millar has announced that extra money raised from reductions in council tax discount on second homes in Angus will be prioritised to install sprinkler systems in new build social housing.

Legislation introduced in 2005 allowed councils to reduce council tax discounts on most second homes and long-term empty properties. Money raised has to be used towards providing affordable housing for rent or shared ownership homes.

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Projects which have already received supported from this fund include the Trust Housing Association Limited's Development at 12-30 Garden Street, Gowan Park, Arbroath and Hillcrest Housing Association Limited's development at Alma Works, Arbroath.

Councillor Millar said: "We saw the benefits of sprinkler systems first hand in Angus when we ran a controlled demonstration in two rooms in a flat in Forfar, one with and one without a sprinkler. The evidence we have seen is clear: sprinkler systems will save lives and minimise damage to properties and possessions. For this reason I am backing their use and prioritising these funds for this purpose."

The move was agreed by the council's neighbourhood services committee at their recent meeting.

(GK/JM)