Monday 19 November 2007

Lib Dems disappointed by Council Home Insulation Scheme

Liberal Democrat Councillors on Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have reacted with disappointment to the news that the Council’s new home insulation scheme will only be free to people on benefits.

When the Lib Dems ran the council as main partner of the Coalition until May this year, they introduced free insulation for all homes with residents either under five years old or over 60. However, Labour recently scrapped this scheme.

Following pressure from the Liberal Democrats, the Labour-run council has now introduced a similar scheme for cavity wall and loft insulation, but it will only be free to householders in receipt of benefits.

Leader of the Lib Dem Group Councillor Chris Abbott, said:

“This scheme is good as far as it goes, but it doesn’t go far enough. It is great for people on benefits, but what about people who are just above the benefits threshold?”

“The losers here are the less well-off retired people, who used to get the insulation for free but will now have to pay.”

“In the longer term I would like to see the Council go further, and follow the excellent lead of Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council in providing free cavity wall and loft insulation for all households which request it. There the result has been savings on fuel bills of £150 per household per year, the creation of several new jobs, and a significant cut in CO2 emissions.”

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