According to a recent report, up to one in four households in Bridlington are facing debt management problems due to ‘fuel poverty’.
The East Riding Council committee commissioned a report which found that across the region, 18 per cent of households are suffering from fuel poverty, which is greater than the national average of 16 per cent. Fuel poverty is when a household has to pay out more than 10 per cent of its total income in order to cover fuel bills and to maintain a satisfactory level of heating.
The key areas which have the highest levels of fuel poverty (above 26 per cent) were highlighted in the report to the committee. Included in this list were all three Bridlington wards, prompting concern that the residents of these areas may soon be in urgent need of debt help.
Looking back at the figures for the East Riding region in 2008, it can be seen that fuel poverty rose by six per cent since 2006. The problem may even get worse, as energy costs look set to rise alongside increases in the everyday costs of living.
Councillor John Wilkinson, who is the chairman of the environment and regeneration overview and scrutiny sub-committee, said:
“It’s going to get worse as fuel costs rise and will affect a very vulnerable section of the community, which I think is mainly older people and young families that have got very little spare income.
“The council is concerned about this. We are doing all we can to assist vulnerable people involved.”
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