Liberal Democrats from Harlow were in Harrogate for the Liberal Democrats' conference to back a move to make housing in Harlow warmer, greener and more affordable.

The Liberal Democrat plans would:

• Help lift pensioners and disabled people out of fuel poverty


• Cut the number of excess winter deaths in the East of England


• Make it easier for families to insulate their homes and cut fuel bills


• Aim to more than halve the amount of polluting carbon emissions produced by homes in Harlow

A recent government study found 141,000 households living in fuel poverty in the East of England, 6.1% of all households in the region. Government statisticians have calculated that, across the East of England, there were 2,600 excess winter deaths, of whom 2,300 were pensioners.

Local Liberal Democrats are backing proposals that would see fuel bills for local people fall dramatically and carbon emissions from homes cut by over half by 2050.

Local Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Chris Millington said:

"Making Harlow a greener, cheaper and more sustainable community must be a top priority. These plans to cut carbon emissions from homes by more than half would save families here in Harlow a lot of money currently being poured into the gas and electricity companies' pockets.

Many people in Harlow can't afford to heat their homes properly. 2,600 people in the East of England died last winter who shouldn't have. It's disgraceful that pensioners can't afford to heat their homes. I want to see help targeted to enable older people and those with disabilities to increase the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their fuel bills.

Standardised packages including a range of insulation, draught-proofing and window, heating and light replacement would help improve the energy efficiency of all homes in Harlow. Less energy wasted equals lower fuel bills, fewer excess winter deaths, less pollution and a greener Harlow."