Call for new scheme to combat rising fuel costs

Feb 18 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

WIRRAL Council will tonight consider calls for a scheme to combat fuel poverty in the borough.

Recent price hikes in fuel costs have prompted the calls for increased efforts to address the problems, and for local MPs to back a review of the energy market.

Liberal Democrat councillor Paula Southwood said: “The recent rises in fuel prices will hit those on fixed incomes the hardest.

“Since Wirral has a higher- than-average older population and some of the most deprived wards in the country, this situation will leave many more Wirral residents in financial hardship.

“We need to step up our efforts to protect the most vulnerable people.

“As a first step, we want all the information on reducing fuel costs, from grants for insulation to advice on saving energy, to be available from one source, and better disseminated through all the council’s outlets.

“Work on bringing all vulnerable households up to decent homes standard also needs to be intensified.

“Finally, we think that it’s time for a review of the energy market by the Competition Commission to ensure that it is competitive and working properly in the interests of all consumers. We’ll be calling on our local MPs to support that review.”

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg recently called on Gordon Brown to “end the scandal of the poorest families paying the most for their energy needs”.

He warned that an estimated 25,000 people were predicted to die from the cold.