Plan to tackle fuel poverty affecting thousands of homes
PLANS outlining how to tackle fuel poverty in thousands of Halton homes over the next five years are to be given the go-ahead.
The council’s executive board has been advised to approve the borough’s Affordable Warmth Strategy, which would start next year and run until 2020.
A report to councillors said that 4,992 households in the borough – 9.2% or almost one in 10 – are living in fuel poverty.
The document said that meant residents were unable to heat their homes to an acceptable level to maintain their health and wellbeing or that their heating expenditure was so much that they did not have enough income to pay for other household needs.
According to a summary accompanying the report, neighbourhoods with the highest levels of fuel poverty include Windmill Hill in Runcorn and the Widnes areas of Appleton and Kingsway.
The report said that fuel poverty widened inequalities and particularly affected the very young, elderly and ‘income deprived’.
The new strategy intends to address such as increasing awareness of the risks associated with fuel poverty and living in cold homes.
It also pledges to identify residents who are living in cold homes or at risk of fuel poverty, and ensure they are able to seek support to address the problem.
The report also said that the health and social care sector should take ‘full account’ of fuel poverty when supporting clients.
It added that the strategy was supported by a detailed action plan with realistic time scales and key partners.
The report said: “The strategy addresses some key issues to reduce the risk of living in cold homes in Halton, thereby improving the short and long term health and wellbeing of households in Halton.
“For children, fuel poverty and living in a cold home can affect normal development, including unhealthy weight gain, worsen health problems like asthma, increasing hospital admissions, reduce educational achievement leading to poorer emotional and mental wellbeing and reduce the ability to cope with the stress of life.
“For adolescents and young people, fuel poverty can lead to poor mental health.
“Reducing fuel poverty and living in cold homes can improve educational achievements for children and young people. This is likely to improve life chances, including employment potentials, for people in Halton.”
The item will be discussed at a meeting today (Thursday, September 15).