E.On admits: We’ve let customers down
ENERGY bosses admit they have “let down the people of Toryglen” during stalled upgrade works.
The Evening Times told in February how 608 homes on the South Side are affected by an environmental improvement project that has been delayed for more than nine months.
And, instead of the upgrades they were expecting, locals have been left with a raft of problems.
They called on local MSP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to help and she held a meeting with Thistle Housing Association, E.ON and residents.
The £8.5million scheme is being carried out by energy firm E.ON on behalf of Thistle Housing, with grant funding from Glasgow City Council. During the meeting, Ms Sturgeon demanded Thistle and E.ON draft a new schedule for the works to be delivered this Friday.
Following the talks, Nigel Dewbery, head of energy efficiency at E.ON, has apologised to locals.
He told the Evening Times: “Following a meeting with Nicola Sturgeon MSP and the residents of Toryglen, E.ON and Thistle Housing have committed to a new programme of work that will see the improvement measures to all homes completed quickly and efficiently in as short a time as possible.
“Our work to insulate 608 homes at Toryglen is a substantial and complex project.
“But that should not be an excuse for the delays residents have experienced.
“In Scotland and across the UK we have won awards for the way we deliver these projects, which makes it all the more painful that we have let down the people of Toryglen in this way.”
The upgrade scheme, aimed at reducing energy bills and improving building fabric, should have taken 12 weeks to complete.
It is still under way nine months later with residents in Kerrycroy Avenue and the surrounding area saying their gardens have been churned up and not replaced.
Among other issues, damage has been caused to patio stones and new roughcast is bald.
In one block, blue plastic has been used to cover residents’ windows for five months, meaning they can’t see out and have to have their lights on even in daytime. Owner occupiers were required to pay £2129.10 towards costs.
Resident Ian Paterson has been campaigning for a solution to ongoing problems.
He praised Ms Sturgeon for chairing the meeting but is sceptical at the situation being speedily resolved.
Mr Paterson said: “We are very grateful to Ms Sturgeon for chairing the meeting. It is not a political issue but a people issue and she made that clear to both Thistle and E.ON.
“Nothing has happened here since last September, it is Groundhog Day. We want E.ON to get this done, get it done quickly and then get out of here.”
Thistle Housing Association did not respond to contact.