Selected Saddleworth households can apply for help with energy bills
Households in North and South Saddleworth can apply for up to £7,000 to help slash the cost of their energy bills.
Under the new Little Bill campaign, Oldham Council and local authorities across the region are working together with the Greater Manchester Energy Advice Line and the new National Home Improvement Fund to help people save money and improve the efficiency of their homes.
Little Bill, the campaign’s new mascot, will soon begin appearing on posters encouraging households to apply for up to £7,000 worth of home improvement measures including new central heating systems, solar panels and insulation.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Energy Advice is inviting residents in certain areas to express an interest in opening up their houses as show homes, demonstrating innovative energy-saving improvements and sharing their experiences with their communities.
In return, selected households will be offered up to £12,000 towards the costs of these improvements.
Three households across Oldham – 30 in total across Greater Manchester – will be selected according to criteria including location, house type and the range of energy improvements that could be installed.
To apply, households must be willing to have their dwellings made into energy efficient show homes, demonstrating to others how they can make their homes easier to heat, healthier and fit for the future.
The successful applicants will allow their homes to be open to other members of the public on seven set days over a two-year period, so visitors are able to see for themselves how these measures work.
The areas in Oldham where the Little Bill team is seeking show homes are – Failsworth, North and South Saddleworth and North Shaw and Crompton. If you live in one of these areas and would be interested in your house becoming a show home please register at www.gmenergyadvice.co.uk or call 0800 009 3363. Work will be starting in Failsworth at the end of July, so look out for the team in the area.
In Oldham we also have the continued successful Warm Homes Oldham scheme, which can help residents’ access grants and additional support if they are struggling to pay energy bills. Go to www.warmhomesoldham.org.uk or call 0800 019 1084.
Keepmoat are Oldham Council’s approved installer for both Warm Homes Oldham and the Little Bill scheme – they will always carry relevant ID, so please ask for this if somebody knocks on your door offering you energy efficiency improvements or grants.
Councillor David Hibbert, Cabinet Member for Housing, Planning and Transport, said: “We are lucky in Oldham to have such a wide range of support for residents who need help improving the energy efficiency of their homes and wish to save money.
“I’d urge residents not to be complacent during this warmer weather and get their homes winter ready now by getting in touch and finding out what help they could get.”
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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