People Wrapping Up in Blankets, Afraid to Turn on Heating
Residents in Salford are struggling with heating costs, prompting calls for more warm spaces amid rising temperatures and fuel poverty concerns
Salford, UK, Heating, Fuel Poverty, Warm Spaces, Council
Salford: The council has turned down requests to create more warm spaces in public buildings. The Conservative opposition wanted to set up new hubs for folks who are having a tough time staying warm or getting to existing ones.
During a recent meeting at the Civic Centre, they suggested using libraries and community centers to help people escape the cold. They even talked about having volunteers assist those who need help getting there.
Council member Robin Garrido mentioned that many people are “wrapping up in blankets because they are scared of putting their heating on” as the temperatures drop below zero at night.
The motion also asked the council to reach out to the Chancellor about changes to winter fuel payments, which the Conservatives believe are making it harder for people to heat their homes.
Garrido pointed out that places like Worsley library, which is only open three days a week, could be better utilized as warm spaces for elderly residents. However, the Labour group voted against the proposal, with deputy mayor Tracey Kelly saying they couldn’t support it without major changes.
She noted that there are already plenty of warm hubs in the city, including council-operated gateways and local community centers, churches, and other public buildings.
Coun Kelly acknowledged that the government could have handled the winter fuel payment changes better but emphasized that Salford’s local winter support payment is helping those in need.
So far, over 2,000 households in Salford have received a £200 winter payment from the council, out of nearly 3,000 who were invited to apply. This support scheme was launched in November to assist pensioners who qualify for the council tax reduction but don’t receive pension credits.
Since then, the council has distributed nearly £420,000 to the city’s most vulnerable residents, according to Salford Labour. The Conservatives’ motion for warm spaces was first introduced back in September but was postponed until now.
Garrido accused the Labour group of “playing politics with people’s lives” by rejecting the motion. A spokesperson for Salford Labour responded, saying that 14 years of Conservative economic mismanagement has led to more households living in fuel poverty.
They also claimed that the local Conservative group is “opportunistically portraying themselves as on the side of the most vulnerable” after the previous government’s austerity measures.