Bright future predicted for borough's Warm Front users according to Halton MP Derek Twigg

By Sarah Griffiths on Nov 5, 09 02:01 PM in News

HALTON MP Derek Twigg is urging green-minded residents to take full advantage of measures that could cut their energy bills by as much as £600 a year.

The call follows the success of the Warm Front scheme in tackling fuel poverty in Widnes and Runcorn.

Warm Front provides grants of up to £3,500 towards insulation and gas heating measures and £6,000 for oil heating to low income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Support services company Eaga, which manages Warm Front on behalf of the Government, reported that the past year has seen a record number of applications, with 6,548 households in Halton benefiting from the scheme, via a range of energy efficiency measures including loft and cavity wall insulation, new heating systems and draughtproofing.

Mr Twigg said: "The Warm Front scheme helps people improve their homes' energy efficiency and is vital in helping increasing numbers of people who are finding energy bills a heavy burden.

"Policies which tackle climate change are crucial, so seeing Warm Front doing that while addressing the growing social issue of fuel poverty is very important to our communities."

Almost £7m has been invested by Warm Front in Halton to date.

To qualify for Warm Front residents must either own their own home or live in privately rented accommodation and should be in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

To find out more about the scheme and to see if they qualify, households are being urged to contact Warm Front on 0800 316 6014.