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Consumer: Fuel bill fight is hotting up
HEATING DRILL: Coun David Blackburn, Stuart Oakes, and Coun Mark Dobson.
Help is at hand for people battling rising fuel bills. Aisha Iqbal reports
Cash-strapped families in Leeds and Wakefield are urged to sign up for two new free schemes to warm their homes – and cool the pressure of ever-soaring heating bills.
A new free insulation scheme could help save Leeds families hundreds of pounds – and £1.6 million collectively - on their annual energy bills total.
And Wakefield residents too can sign up to a special package of measures – which also includes free insulation – to help them through the cold months.
Homeowners and private-renting tenants in Leeds are invited to apply to Wrap Up Leeds, a new project launched this month.
Under the scheme, anyone in the Leeds City Council boundaries can apply for free cavity wall and loft insulation.
According to estimates, it could save around 15,000 qualifying Leeds residents a collective total of £1,653,750.
The scheme is a city council partnership with Yorkshire Energy Services, with funding from EDF Energy.
The first to benefit from the scheme were Stuart Oakes and his family, who are predicted to save £200 a year on bills once the gaps between their home’s external walls are filled with mineral wool.
Mr Oakes, 45, who lives with his wife and two children in Morley, said: “I’ve been meaning to get around to having cavity wall insulation installed for a while.
“When I heard it was free for everyone in Leeds for a limited time I knew I had to act quickly.”
Around 200 people have already signed up for a free technical survey of their home to see if they qualify for free work,
There are 15,000 place available until September, but the scheme could finish earlier if all the places are snapped up.
Coun Mark Dobson, the council’s executive member for environmental services said: “I’d encourage anyone in Leeds that owns or privately rents their home to sign up without delay.
“We can only offer free insulation to around 15,000 homes so please act now to see if your home can benefit and start making savings.”
Coun David Blackburn, chair of the council’s cross-party environment and climate change working group, added: “Wrap Up Leeds is a fantastic opportunity for Leeds residents.
“Even though some of the big energy suppliers have recently announced cuts in prices, home insulation will help people cut their fuel bills further, reduce the city’s carbon footprint and allow people to enjoy a healthier and more comfortable home.”
The scheme offers free cavity wall insulation, as well as loft insulation where less than 60mm of loft insulation currently exists.
Loft ‘top ups’ - where more than 60mm but less than 160mm of loft insulation currently exists – are also available.
A free, technical survey of the property will confirm that the work will definitely be free.
People living in much larger properties – or those that need extensive scaffolding – may be asked to pay a contribution towards the work.
The estimated savings of £1,653,750 on energy bills are based on installing cavity wall insulation in 6,000 homes, laying insulation in over 3,000 empty lofts and ‘topping up’ a further 5,850 lofts.
Meanwhile the ‘Wakefield Cold Homes Action Project’ (CHAP) offers help to owner occupied and private rented householders living in the Wakefield district.
The project offers a variety of free help including free or discounted loft and cavity wall insulation and electric heaters will also be offered to homes in emergency need of heating.
Also on offer is a benefits assessment to see if you are eligible for any benefits.
Older people can get advice and support from Age UK Wakefield and District.
They can also sign up to a handyman service for free fitting of draught proofing, security measures, grab rails and other minor home repairs.
CHAP, a multi-agency project, is being coordinated by Wakefield Council Home Energy Team and is being funded by the Department of Health ‘Warm Homes healthy People’ fund.
People are urged to apply now as CHAP is only available until March 31.
To sign up for Wrap Up Leeds and book a survey, call 0800 052 0071 or visit www.wrapupleeds.co.uk.
For CHAP application forms visit www.wakefield.gov.uk/energy.
Completed forms should be emailed to eat@wakefield.gov.uk or faxed to 01924 306325.
Alternatively, applications can be made over the phone by calling the Wakefield Home Energy Team on 08449 020 222.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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