Warm Front delivers a fairer deal | Gisela Stuart Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston

Warm Front delivers a fairer deal // August 26th, 2009 // Constituency News, Uncategorized

Gisela Stuart has welcomed major improvements to the Government’s Warm Front Scheme, which has helped nearly two million households across the country to make their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat.

The changes are part of the Labour Government’s drive to tackle fuel poverty and deliver more value for money for customers of the popular scheme. Under the new arrangements, there will be greater competition between contractors who carry out heating and insulation work for Warm Front, which will help ensure lower installation costs for customers. There will also be improvements to the inspection process and a tougher regime to deal with contractors whose work doesn’t come up to standard.

The Government are also boosting the value of grants available under the scheme, after concerns that the rising cost of installing heating and insulation meant that many works were no longer fully covered by a Warm Front grant. Eligible households can now receive up to £3500 - up from £2700 under the old rules.

Gisela said:

“Warm Front has made a real difference to people in this constituency and across the country, helping to make their homes warmer and slashing the cost of their fuel bills.

I’m pleased that the Government has acted quickly to address the problems caused by rising installation costs, so that people can continue to benefit from this vital scheme.”

For more information on Warm Front, please visit their website here.

One Comment to “Warm Front delivers a fairer deal”

Dear Ms Stuart,
You are right ! it does provide a fairer deal, but only for the warm front contractors. I was awarded maximum grant due to my age 67 and disabilty, it took months of fafing about, with 2 experts agreeing with me what my home required and what was best for me. My 150 year old cornish cottage, has no damp course and a slate floor, only water and electricity , and had parkray multifuel cental heating, that is until the boiler cracked. The engineers agreed with me all that was needed is replacement boiler and 1 statuary hall radiator, or alternativly oil fired system, the latter had already been started some years ago with a new bunded tank outside , concreate base for a boiler house, and the access hole through the 3ft thick gable end wall( ALL THE HARD WORK HAD BEEN DONE) Eventually the warm front peaple contacted me from Newton Abbott DEVON ( WHY NOT A CORNISH COMPANY?)they recommended a complete oil system at over £6000 with my contribution of around 2500 ,I contacted them and explained that a local engineer would fit a new multifuel for £1200 and oil for £1350 they said well 1st we dont FITor repair multifuel? and 2nd only we are contracted to fit the goverment grant system, I ask to see the estimate for the oil C/E , they declined saying I was not entitled to that information? even though I was going to pay almost £3000. As I could not afford the contribution ( which may I add amounted to £1000 more than I could get the job done locally ) I had to withdraw my application, this later created a further situation with my local council who advised me that as I had applied for and declined the warm front grant they were not able to help me with any of there schemes. I am still without the central heating/ hot water sytem that we require to keep us warm/dry ( my wife has advanced crohans and severe divertaticulitus, I have a spinal / bowel/ kidney condition, and have suffered 2 strokes (but wont lie down).
I would further comment that what is the point installing liquide gas, oil/or electric ( Which they would not recommend or fit storage heaters unless I paid to have the house rewired to the latest spec) when on the basic of state income we cannot afford to use any of it, where as with multifuel not only having the lowest carbone emittance could keep the vital requirements heat, hot water, cooking, and light ,by burning logs/wood/coke even when the electric supply fails (about 5 times a year). For us that live (TRAPPED) in rural area’s ,there is no other pactical solution!, than ask the Mr Brown to bring gas to every area of england (i dont think). I have given up asking for any help as either the government are in on the scam or the contactors are paying someone in the system to cover up the excessive demands to fit what is a simple heating system, as a former engineer I proberly have more knowledge than the smooth talking freelance assessors / consultants (joke) will ever have. I can tell you that I was pressed short of harassment to release this information by the lib dems, and conservative MPs who wished to use it against the Labour party, but as I have been a Lab man for 40 odd years I had no wish to see my or the PMs name in media headlights! and I believe that is the real reason why the council say they will/cannot not help. Sorry for the spelling etc but my brain isn’t functioning too well these days, its taken me 4hrs plus to write this (another reason for me not to bother to chase the wind) I truly believe that the PM and advisers don’t realy know what is happening behind there backs with regards to warm front, and suggest he sets on some street wise staff who are not concerned with the PC side of politics , his eyes may be opened to the crooks that are fooling most of you. but be sure that one day the bubble will burst and onece again the party will be out in the cold. You may pass this on to the PM and wish him well in the next GE Best regards Mr A Roost
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By Mr A Roost | January 24, 2010