GOVERNMENT HELP FOR INSULATING HOMES IN STAFFORD

On Tuesday, Local Labour man, David Kidney will be learning about the first home in Stafford to be insulated under a Government scheme called Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP). It is a partnership between central and local government, energy companies and community groups and it is delivering £350 million of insulation measures to “hard to treat” homes like those with solid walls.

David says he is delighted that locally Stafford & Rural Homes has partnered with British Gas to insulate the homes of tenants on low incomes including elderly residents:

“Fuel bills worry many households especially after several years of sustained price rises for their electricity and gas. This programme is especially valuable for households on low incomes whose homes have no cavity wall to be insulated. Inevitably, the insulation solution needed, like external wall cladding or internal secondary wall covering, is more expensive. This Government scheme makes it possible for householders to have the works done to make their homes warmer, more comfortable and cheaper to heat.

“I congratulate Stafford & Rural Homes, British Gas and the local council for this initiative in our community. I am looking forward to seeing the first home that has been made more energy efficiency and to talk to those responsible for the work. I am especially pleased that British Gas is able to offer new apprenticeships on this scheme.

“A Labour Government has plans to help more householders meet the costs of heating their home. Our policy document Warm Homes Greener Homes commits us to insulate every loft and cavity wall where practicable by 2015 and to complete 7 million eco upgrades for “hard to treat” homes by 2020. And as a Minister, I have been responsible for a pilot scheme starting next month under which around 250,000 of the poorest pensioner households will get £80 off their electricity bills. Our manifesto says that we plan to extend this pilot to cut the electricity bills of over 1 million pensioners by more than £100 every year. The same scheme will also be available to help other vulnerable householders.”