Temperature rises among councillors over heating costs

A ROW has broken out between councillors about increases in heating costs for more than 2,000 Mansfield households in the UK

Homes on the district heating system will see their costs for heating and hot water rise by almost a quarter within the next six months after the move was agreed at a council meeting last week.

But Labour members of Mansfield District Council hit out at the price hikes, of 10 per cent in December and a further 13.2 per cent next April, saying they will badly hit elderly people.

Coun John Smart told the full council meeting: "It is a bit of a bombshell. I am surprised this wasn't picked up 18-months-ago when fuel started to rise."

And Coun Sheila Shields said: "For Meden Vale I cannot support the proposed increases. The tenants of Melville Court pay if they use the heating or if they don't.

"People in a one-bedroomed flat are paying £586.04 a year. This amount is payable in summer and winter months and I believe it would hit the elderly and vulnerable hard."

But other councillors said nobody could be immune from the huge increases in fuel costs and other Council Tax payers could not subsidise the heating system.

Coun Barry Answer said: "If there is a deficit on the account, that has to be met. Increases in gas and electricity have been going on lump by lump while the people on this system have not had any increases.

"Let's get real. We are here to make sure we look after the tenants but we have to balance the books."

And Coun Heather Henshaw, portfolio holder for housing, said the district heating was a 'very antiquated system' and the authority was looking into improving it.

"Prices have gone up and up and up, far more than we envisaged," she said. "I believe that if anybody should take the blame for this, it is the Government."

The increases will mean bills for those on fixed rate band C, which applies to two and three bedroomed flats, will increase from £12.52 a week to £13.77 in December and £15.59 in April.

The district heating system is provided to 2,184 homes and would face a projected deficit of £135,000 this year if no increases were made.