In Reading around 9,000 households are living in fuel poverty. These households will struggle to afford to heat their houses in the coming winter.
The new Ofgem energy price cap underlines the urgent need for a government-backed home insulation programme targeted at everyone, especially those most at risk of fuel poverty.
The government should be announcing funding and support for local councils to start a mass programme of cost-saving home insulation. With the right funding and determination, such a scheme could start to help people from this winter.
Disappointingly Labour-run Reading Council previously had to hand back £495,000 of government grant funding for insulating homes. Green councillors will keep up the pressure to make sure any future money is well spent.
Even with a lower energy price cap, bills are still higher than before the energy crisis and are likely to remain high for the future.
Figures released recently suggested that almost half of all British households – 13m homes – said they did not turn on their heating when it got cold last winter.
The average home could save hundreds of pounds a year with decent insulation and the government needs to support councils to reach them as soon as possible. Insulating people’s homes means they can stay warm while using less energy, saving money and producing fewer harmful carbon emissions.
A mass programme of government-backed, council delivered home insulation starting before winter is a win-win solution for people and the planet.
We have the opportunity now, starting with support for the most at-risk people, to create warmer, more comfortable homes and in the process create millions of jobs, reduce bills and cut carbon emissions.
Greens are the second largest party in Reading
As the main opposition party on Labour-run Reading Council Green councillors will continue to work constructively to get the best for Reading residents.
There are now seven Green Party councillors and we are now two councillors ahead of the Conservatives.
We will keep working hard all year round on the issues that matter to residents.
If you’re keen on being part of the change in Reading, get involved and help us make Reading fairer, greener and cleaner: reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved
Green Party councillor Rob White, leader of the main opposition group on Reading Borough Council
