‘Heat banks’, targeted payments and anti-poverty strategies: How councils plan to keep you warm this winter

Households across Oldham are bracing themselves for a long hard winter that it is feared could leave many choosing between heating and eating.

The Bank of England has warned that a typical home will be paying almost £300 a month for their energy from October, with the price cap due to rise by 70%.

Meanwhile the price of food, fuel and other unavoidable costs continues to skyrocket with inflation now set to hit 13%.

The charity National Energy Action predicts one in three consumers could be plunged into fuel poverty if energy bills rise as much as expected.

Against such a grim backdrop, local councils are already putting plans in place to help their residents get through the cold and worrying months that lie ahead.

Among the measures being implemented are ‘heat banks’ – spaces where people who can’t afford to heat their home can go to stay warm.

Town halls will also be targeting funding to those most at risk or in need, providing financial support and advice and implement wider anti-poverty strategies.

Below is how each of our nearest local authorities is planning to tackle the deepening cost of living crisis this winter.

Oldham

Bosses are discussing what action to take after holding a ‘cost of living summit’ last week.

Further details are expected soon, with council leader Coun Amanda Chadderton admitting the situation facing people is ‘worse than at any point during the pandemic’

“Times are tough for everyone but it’s residents on the lowest incomes who are feeling the effects of rising prices the most,” she said.

“Wages haven’t changed and for some they’ve not been keeping pace with inflation for years. That’s especially true of key workers – the same people we depended on during the pandemic.

“I know that Oldham residents are going to be making tough decisions this winter, if they’re not already, and if the government isn’t going to step in with a short-term plan then we need to.”

Rochdale

The council said it would continue to work with partners, the community and the voluntary sector to support households in greatest need – as it has done since the beginning of the pandemic.

This could involve some form of heat banks according to one senior councillor.

Deputy council leader Daalat Ali said: We are developing a joint plan around supporting households most at risk over the Winter period and will be discussing how people might access warm buildings.”

Tameside

Tameside council has confirmed its libraries will be available for residents to keep warm this winter as the cost-of-living crisis bites.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “We’re taking this issue very seriously and are considering all of the options available to support residents though what we know will be a very difficult period.

“A first port of call as somewhere to keep warm would be our libraries but we are exploring what other options could also be made available. We will publicise details of all support available locally. There is also the Household Support Fund available to residents who may qualify for support.”

Household Support Fund Information drop in sessions are available for Tameside residents on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am-12.30pm at Level 1 of Tameside One, in Ashton-Under-Lyne.

Anyone wanting information or help with the application can attend. Those who attend a drop in for support are asked to bring a bank statement from the last three months. The scheme is a limited, fixed fund available until 30 September 2022, or when funds are exhausted.

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