West Lothian campaigner Joe Baxter dies just months before move into new home he fought 20 years for

Published date12 April 2024
AuthorStuart Sommerville
Publication titleEdinburghLive (Scotland)
Joe, and his widow Isabel had been planning the move into their new bungalow on the estate by the end of the summer, at the same time as fellow neighbour and Ghost estate campaigner Kerry Macintosh

The couple lived just along the road from Kerry in the Deans South street which was condemned for its RAAC/ Siporex roofing 18 years ago.

Joe and Isabel Baxter were among a group of nine home-owners who fought for almost two decades for a new home.

The couple had been able to visit their new bungalow which is being completed by Springfield Homes on the Deans South site in January.

Joe was remembered by family and friends at a funeral service earlier this week at Livingston Old Parish St Andrews Church in Deans.

Kerry, a neighbour of the Baxters for more than two decades, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she was "heartbroken."

And writing on her social media page, A Fair Deal for Deans South Homeowners, she added: "He was my kind and lovely neighbour. I'm thinking of Isabel and the family."

She told the LDRS: "I just felt my heart cave in at the funeral, I can't still take it in that he's not here. It's like losing a father. That's what it felt like to me."

She added: "We were always in contact constantly. Joe and Isabel were more than neighbours, they were part of my family. Joe and Isabel gave me the inspiration to fight on with this.

"I remember I sat down with Joe and Isabel when they said 'we are not giving up our house. We are going to fight' and 20 years on we have got a new house. I am going to get justice for them. This is for Joe and Isabel."

The Baxter family announced Joe had died after a long illness...

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