Last updated at 14:10, Tuesday, 23 October 2012

AID has been pledged to help the most vulnerable stay warm this winter.

Barrow Borough Council has signed up to the Local Authority Fuel Poverty Commitment.

The commitment will see the council working with other authorities, charities, environmental groups and health groups to tackle fuel poverty.

Members of the council’s executive committee voted to sign up to the commitment as they believe there are problems with fuel poverty in the borough.

Executive director Phil Huck told the meeting: “We haven’t got any official figures but certainly the indications are there is a significant level of fuel poverty in the borough because of the general problems that exist in the area.”

Mr Huck said the partnership would involve the council working with groups, including the Cumbria Health and Wellbeing Board, to devise initiatives to ensure people are able to stay warm in their homes during cold spells.

Councillors welcomed the decision and said it was important to protect those struggling with fuel property.

Councillor Debra Seward said: “There are so many people living in fuel poverty in Barrow.

“Gas and electricity prices have risen horrendously and health and housing problems are a knock on effect.”

Councillor Lesley Graham said: “This is only going to get worse, especially with the British Gas rise. I don’t think there is any way we can’t sign up to this.”

Councillor Jeff Garnett said: “This is one of the biggest out there and we must do anything we can to help these people.”

At the end of this year, the government will introduce a new energy efficiency programme, entitled the Green Deal, which will offer the installation of energy saving measures at no upfront cost, with the costs being paid back over time through the resulting savings in energy bills.

This is one of the schemes the council aims to take advantage of to improve fuel poverty.

Barrow Borough Council has several schemes that can help people living in fuel poverty.

For more information, visit www.barrowbc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=429.

First published at 16:13, Thursday, 18 October 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk