Central Heating Fund Grant Set To Benefit East Riding Residents
East Riding of Yorkshire Council has been awarded over £1million to help install central heating systems to households in the greatest need.
The money has come from the Government’s central heating fund, which is a £25million capital funding programme designed to support local authorities deliver first time central heating systems.
The council will now be working alongside energy company npower to install central heating systems to a number of privately owned or privately rented households free to those East Riding residents who are eligible.
The announcement comes ahead of Fuel Poverty Awareness Day on 26 February 2016, which is designed to highlight the impact living in fuel poverty can have on people.
According to Government figures, there are around 12,000 households in the East Riding deemed to be in fuel poverty which mean residents have lower incomes but high energy costs.
Some of the highest areas of households in fuel poverty in the East Riding include areas in south east Holderness and Driffield and the Wolds – this could be due to the fact they are not on the mains gas system and still having to buy in oil to heat their homes.
Councillor Shaun Horton, portfolio holder for community involvement and local partnership at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“This is an important first step in delivering against the new fuel poverty strategy which sets out the approach the Government will take so see the greatest number of fuel poor households read the benefits that come with installing a central heating system.
“Schemes like the central heating fund bring much needed help for those most in need as keeping warm is vital for health and the elderly, sick and the very young are most at risk from extreme conditions when houses cannot be heated.”
Denise Rogers, npower business development manager added: “This central heating fund is a very important community scheme and we are proud to be working with East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
“You don’t have to be customer of npower to receive our help and we are keen to ensure new heating systems are installed into homes that really need it.”
For more information contact Jane Mears, senior environmental health officer at East Riding of Yorkshire Council on (01482) 396180 or email energyefficiency@eastriding.gov.uk
