Full Council support for ‘life or death’ motion

It follows councillors’ full backing at last Monday night’s monthly meeting for a motion on the issue, tabled by Cllr Paul Frew. and seconded by Cllr Tommy Nicholl.

It read: “That this Council recognises the serious problem of fuel poverty in this country, especially amongst older people; acknowledges the adverse impact that rising fuel bills are likely to have on the ability of older people to keep warm and healthy; and calls on the Government to support Age Sector Platform’s call to maintain the winter fuel payment this winter at its current level of £250 for pensioner households where someone is between 60-79 years old and £400 for those aged 80 and over”.

Mr Frew pointed out that the cost of heating oil has risen by over 63% in the last two years, that electricity prices have risen by 18.6% from October 1, gas prices have risen by 28.4% in the 10 towns area which includes Ballymena and that coal prices are set to rise by anything up to 10% while the cost of LPG went up by nine per cent in August of this year.

The Councillor went on to reveal that of the 44% of households currently in fuel poverty, 13% are in severe fuel poverty and that 53% of those aged 60-74 are in fuel poverty while the figure stands at 76% in over the 75 years’ age group.

He also highlighted the frightening statistic that during 2009/2010 756 people aged 65 and over died of cold related illnesses in Northern Ireland. Pointing out that the winter fuel payment was to be cut from £250 to £200 (for 60-79-year-olds) and from £400 to £100 (80 years-plus), Cllr Frew said: “This motion is not political - it is something we need to tackle”.

“What we have got to do is write to Westminster and ask them to give back that £50 and £100 because in Ballymena that could mean the difference between life and death to someone,” he said.

Numerous councillors spoke out in support of the motion, among them Cllr Paul Maguire, however, he claimed that ‘it didn’t go far enough on the issue.

He said: “We have spoken of fuel poverty in this chamber. It has been debated at Westminster and in the Assembly. It is about high time therefore that a determined effort was made to do something effective because a lot of lip service is paid to the relief of fuel poverty but not a lot has actually been done.

“Cllr Frew has previously articulated three reasons for fuel poverty; household income, fuel costs and the energy efficiency of homes, particularly in rural areas. There are more than 300,000 people of retirement age today in the North, which is over 17% of the population. 44% of households here suffer fuel poverty compared to Scotland with 33%, Wales with 20% and England with 16%. The problem is much more acute here,” said Cllr Maguire.

“Given the higher fuel poverty levels in the north, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) must take a more proactive approach.

“The Minister must consider some of the radical ideas proposed by Sinn Féin such as the Executive acting as a Fuel Broker and passing on all savings made in bulk procurement, to those citizens in greatest need.

Paying lip service won’t pay the heating bills nor safeguard the lives of the many citizens who will die needlessly this winter of cold related issues,” said the Councillor.