AN ENERGY group claims a quarter of households in Pendle are in ‘fuel poverty’, with thousands of households struggling to pay bills.
Energy Bill Revolution says the area is among the ten constituencies in the North West with the highest percentage of people struggling with electricity and gas charges.
The problem is affecting 23.7per cent of households, which equates to 8,924 out of a total of 37,690 homes.
Energy Bill Revolution, an alliance of more than 80 leading charities, unions, and consumer groups, is calling for the Government to recycle the taxes charged on fuel bills into a new insulations scheme.
Ed Matthew, director of Transform UK, the organisation co-ordinating the campaign said: “It is scandalous that anyone in a developed country should face the choice of whether to buy food, or heat their home.
“From next year the Government will have the money to end the blight of fuel poverty.”
From 2013 onwards, the Government will raise an average of £4billion in carbon taxes every year from the European Emissions Trading Scheme.
Recent figures show that only 57per cent of Britain’s lofts have been properly insulated, and £1 in every £4 spent on heating is wasted due to poor insulation Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson is supporting a current scheme by British Gas, where people on qualifying benefits can apply for free insulation.
Residents will be given £50 for every person on qualifying benefits they refer to British Gas.
Mr Stephenson, said: “We have a great community in Pendle and we can all do our bit to make sure that our friends and family are getting all the help they can in these difficult times.
“If you have an elderly relative, or someone you think might benefit from this offer, then get them to take advantage of the offer.”
Share