Fears about another wave of fuel poverty

ANOTHER wave of fuel poverty could force more people to depend heavily on warm hubs in Dumfries and Galloway, a councillor has warned.

Warm hubs have already been set up in various community facilities in this region and are utilised primarily during storms.

However, council chiefs are on alert because of the current unpredictability of the oil and gas market – and further potential energy price rises.

North West Dumfries Councillor Andy Ferguson fears more people could be going without heating or food, and has insisted the local authority needs to be prepared to act.

He was speaking at Nithsdale area committee last Wednesday where elected members were considering how to allocate £82,248 of grant funding to community-led organisations that help alleviate the pressures of poverty.

Councillor Ferguson said: “What’s been worrying me recently is that we’re heading for real problems with fuel and warm hubs.

“I’m just worried that if it’s £10,000 maximum for grants, and it’s warm hubs coming in (with grant funding requests), but we haven’t got a clue yet what our electricity and gas and oil prices are going to be.

“I’m really worried about what’s going to happen with the oil, gas and electricity prices. The last thing I want is folk not being able to eat because they’ve had to keep the gas on – or being freezing because they’ve got to eat.”

He added: “We certainly need to keep an eye on this. It probably becomes a full council problem if this gets out of hand because the area committee grants are a drop in the ocean really when it comes to the bigger, wider picture.”

Provost Tracey Little added: “I share that fear. We’ve got some serious rises but we can’t pre-empt what they’ll be.

“But then this is what we have constantly. We don’t know what things are going to be like.”

Council officer Derek Hextall confirmed that warm hubs will continue to be backed the local authority, saying: “Previously we have agreed for our community centres, village halls, and town halls for utility support.

“That’s based on a 50 percent support towards last year’s utility cost. So clearly our community facilities will be supported.”

From next week, community groups can apply for grants of up to £10,000 for any project that help alleviate the pressures of poverty and the cost of living crisis for local residents.

The fund is aimed at projects addressing some of the most pressing issues facing communities across Nithsdale, with five priority areas identified: digital connectivity, food insecurity, fuel poverty, warm hubs, and advice and support services covering financial management and lifestyle support.