Labour and the Green Party are neglecting the most vulnerable in the city

12.53.25pm GMT Tue 19th Dec 2006

In a letter to the Eastern Daily Press, Liberal Democrat councillor, Judith Lubbock, writes:

The Labour administration at City Hall, with support from the Green Party, have taken the decision to enhance new private dwellings from Eco Homes 'Good' to 'Very Good' when they draw up particulars of sale for land at Bowthorpe. This is at the expense of improving the energy efficiency of current housing stock which is rated 'poor'. This results in a considerable subsidy to private housing from the public purse.

At a time when there is considerable concern for the most vulnerable in our society who are finding it more and more difficult to heat their homes adequately, I am somewhat surprised that the Council is taking this step. This would have been an excellent opportunity to have put money from maximising the capital receipts from the sale of Bowthorpe land towards housing stock which currently has 'poor' efficiency ratings. The private housing in Bowthorpe would still have been built to Eco Homes 'Good' standard.

Nearly 9,000 households in Norwich are in fuel poverty and an average of 78 people per year die from cold-related deaths in Norwich. Elderly and others on fixed incomes across the city are struggling to meet the increasing costs

of their fuel bills. Some homes have no roof or cavity wall insulation, no double glazing and poor heating systems. These are alarming statistics and as a Council we should be doing something to tackle this issue of fuel poverty. This would have been an opportunity to put substantial resources into an 'Affordable Warmth Strategy' for Norwich and to have had an impact on these unpalatable statistics.

The Liberal Democrats believe that this decision by Labour and The Greens is misguided, concentrating further energy efficient improvements on new private homes when really they should be addressing the problems with the old housing stock.

Liberal Democrat Councillor

Judith Lubbock

422 Unthank Road

Norwich NR4 7QH

Tel: 504126