Helping raise awareness of fuel poverty
BRIDGEND County Borough Council has helped mark Fuel Poverty Awareness Day to highlight the support available for people to keep warm.
The awareness day is organised by the charity National Energy Action (NEA), which last week presented the council with an award for its Caerau mine water project which will help to cut fuel bills for up to a thousand homes.
The innovative Caerau project – which has been awarded a £6.5m grant from Welsh Government towards its development – picked up third place in the recent national Energy Impact Awards which are run by National Energy Action together with British Gas.
Coun Richard Young, the council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “The current cold snap makes it more timely than ever to raise awareness of fuel poverty, which is a very real issue for many residents in our communities.
“When energy bills eat up a large proportion of a household’s income, many have to resort to living in cold homes which obviously has a detrimental knock-on effect for their health.
“However, there is a lot of excellent work being done locally to tackle this problem, with the exciting Caerau mine water project having the potential to make a really positive impact in the Llynfi Valley.
Maria Wardrobe, director of communications and external relations at NEA, said: “I am delighted that Bridgend County Borough Council is supporting the campaign and helping to ensure that residents can live warmer, healthier and happier lives.”
The council’s Caerau miner water project will use naturally heated mine water as a renewable source of energy to warm nearby homes.
www.nestwales.org.uk