DAVID Drew says that fuel poverty 'remains a real problem' in Stroud after a recent government report said that more than 270,000 households in the South West struggle to keep warm during the colder months.

The latest figures for 2015, published in June 2017, reveal that 10.8 per cent of homes in the South West are classed as fuel poor, meaning they cannot afford to keep adequately warm at a reasonable cost given their income, with the national figure increasing to more than 2.5 million.

Stroud MP David Drew said: “Fuel poverty remains a real problem in Stroud. Sadly many of the home insulation support that was in place to help overcome fuel poverty have been removed by this government.

“It remains true that the older people tend to live in the oldest property which adds to the threat of fuel poverty.

“Only a major programme of refurbishment will now bear down on this very damaging aspect of poverty.”

Fuel poverty levels are also higher in rural parts of the UK (14 per cent) compared to urban areas (11 per cent), with these rural households on average experiencing a £700 gap between the cost of their fuel bills and what they can actually afford to pay. This shortfall is twice as much as for urban homes.

The stark contrast is partly due to rural homes typically being older and less efficient so therefore harder to keep warm.

In response, OFTEC, the trade association for the oil heating industry in UK, has written to MPs in Gloucestershire urging them to take immediate action to provide support for fuel poor households before the cold weather returns this year.

Malcolm Farrow, from OFTEC, commented: “It is shocking that once again we are seeing an increase in levels of fuel poverty with more and more people unable to afford the most basic need of keeping warm.

“We are also seeing a growing divide between rural and urban households and it is disappointing so little progress has been made to address this crucial issue.”

The fuel poverty report highlighted the need to make homes more energy efficient by upgrading boilers to modern, high efficient types and improving insulation.

This will help reduce the fuel poverty gap by lowering household energy requirements and therefore reducing fuel bills.

Mr Farrow added: “Our research shows rural homes can save over £200 a year by upgrading to a modern, high efficiency boiler.

“That’s why we are calling on local MPs and the government to support those who are most vulnerable by introducing a boiler replacement scheme to help households upgrade and benefit from cheaper fuel bills.

“However, we recognise that for some people already in fuel poverty it will be difficult to afford the upgrade, even with financial assistance.

"Fortunately, there are other low cost ways these households can reduce their heating costs such as regularly adjusting heating timers, bleeding radiators, improving insulation and having their heating system regularly serviced to ensure it is working efficiently.”