Private householders in the Harlech area wards will have the opportunity to take advantage of an innovative scheme which aims to tackle fuel poverty and improve the energy efficiency of homes. This will enable the households to live in warmer homes, whilst at the same time, reduce their fuel bills.
The Here to Help scheme – a partnership between Gwynedd Council and British Gas – will give private householders within the wards of Harlech, Dyffryn Ardudwy and Llanbedr, the chance to insulate the attic, insulate cavity walls and their hot water tank – all for free.
The “Here to Help” scheme has already targeted private homes in 53 wards throughout Gwynedd, with thousands of private homes securing support to insulate their homes free of charge.
Councillor John Wyn Williams, Gwynedd Council’s Senior Portfolio Leader for Care said:
“The Here to Help project underlines Gwynedd Council’s commitment to reducing the number of homes that suffer from fuel poverty. We are proud to be able to support this innovative initiative which has already given private householders across the county the opportunity to check their home’s energy efficiency and reduce the amount of money they spend on fuel bills.
“I would urge anyone who lives in these wards in the Harlech area who live in private homes to come along to the open information sessions to learn more about what’s on offer, and hope that a number of them can make the most of the scheme. Officers will be on-hand to give advice and information about the scheme.”
The Here to Help scheme will be launched in the Harlech area (the wards of Harlech, Dyffryn Ardudwy and Llanbedr) on Thursday, 7 October, with and exhibition and drop-in session at Dyffryn Ardudwy Village Hall from 11am to 1pm and at Harlech Memorial Hall from 2pm to 5pm. There will be an opportunity for members of the public to call by to meet with relevant officers from Gwynedd Council, British Gas, Hillserve Insulation who are part of the initiative, as well as representatives from the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
The “Here to Help” scheme – jointly funded by Gwynedd Council and British Gas – costs nothing to participating households, provided that they live permanently within the targeted wards. The scheme aims to help reduce the number of residents who live in ‘fuel poverty’ – homes where more than 10% of household income is spent on energy.
Householders who take part in the project don’t have to be British Gas customers, or even have gas in the household to qualify. Every private sector household in the selected area will receive a letter from British Gas, inviting them to take part. The householders will then be contacted with a survey appointment by the company appointed to undertake the work, Hillserve Insulation.
