Leaders unite to stir action on fuel poverty 'crisis'

A summit in Newcastle has brought together regional leaders, businesses and experts to address fuel poverty in the North East.

Held at the Common Room of the North, the inaugural North East Warm Homes Summit was led by North East mayor Kim McGuinness, with speakers including Government fuel poverty chair Caroline Flint and councillor Karen Kilgour, leader of Newcastle City Council.

Organised by Warmworks, Energy Saving Trust and National Energy Action, the event focused on securing investment to improve housing efficiency and reduce energy costs.

It came in response to latest Government figures that show the North East has the highest levels of fuel poverty in England, with one in every ten households in the region currently unable to affordably heat their homes.

Mayor McGuinness called for greater powers to deal more effectively with the rising levels of fuel poverty in the region. 

She said: “Nobody in the North East should have to live in a cold, damp home, or live in fear of turning the heating on to stay warm without breaking the bank. 

“I’m committed to making the North East the home of real opportunity, and as part of that, we must tackle this social crisis to lift thousands of families across our region out of poverty. 

“We cannot afford to waste time; we must devolve power to our region and we need the money to do it. 

“We need a massive retrofit programme to lift vulnerable people out of fuel poverty.”

With energy bills having risen again on April 1, leaders are calling for urgent action to make homes warmer, healthier and more affordable. 

Caroline, former health minister and MP, and now chair of the Government’s fuel poverty committee, added: “The link between improvements to health and action on fuel poverty is long proven, and the opportunities for families across the North East to benefit from living in warmer and healthier homes is why it’s so important we collaborate to deliver the benefits of the Warm Homes Plan to those most in need.”

Councillor Kilgour added: “Newcastle has a proud history of tackling fuel poverty and of pioneering local action that has been adapted nationally to deliver transformational change in the past. 

“It’s time for us to once again lead the charge in the North East and deliver benefits to our local communities that need our support.”

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