Lifting Leith Residents Out of Fuel Poverty

Leith Lib Dem Councillor Marjorie Thomas

Here is a release relating to a terrific Community Energy scheme we've put in place in  Leith. I took the opportunity to visit the Cables Wynd block with local Lib Dem Councillor Marjorie Thomas  yesterday and I have to say it was a very impressive scheme lifting hundreds of people out of fuel poverty and really improving the quality of their lives. 

Residents in one of Edinburgh’s largest block of flats are set to benefit from cheaper fuel bills thanks to the City of Edinburgh Council.

A new £2.25m communal-heating system is being installed in Cables Wynd House as part of a major refurbishment programme for the building.

This is the first such system to be installed by the Council. Work on the gas-powered system for the 209 flats started in May last year and is expected to be completed by next month.

Other works in the refurbishment programme include new kitchens, bathrooms, windows and insulation.

This gives residents much more control over their heating than the old storage heaters did. It will also mean cheaper fuel bills.

Housing Leader Councillor Paul Edie said: “The benefit of the communal heating system is that it costs much less to run than the electric storage heaters originally installed in the flats.

“This could not have come at a better time for many families as in the current economic climate some people are finding it very hard to pay their bills. In some cases, people are torn between paying bills and putting food on the table.

“This is all part of our ongoing commitment to help our tenants keep their homes warm and comfortable whilst keeping energy bills as low as possible.”

Notes to editors:

Cables Wynd House – known locally as 'The Banana Flats' - is a large concrete deck access block of flats built in Leith in the early 1960s.   

Around £750,000 of funding for the project has been provided through the  Community Energy Saving Programme with the rest of the costs met through the Council's ongoing capital programme. 

Residents - 209 tenants, 3 owners - were given the option to join the communal scheme or to retain their electric storage heaters.  A total of 193 tenants and one owner have joined the scheme.

Residents will pay the Council for the heating they use through a service charge along with their rent.  The scheme is non-profit-making. 

Further communal heating projects are set to be up and running in Greendykes and Wauchope Houses later this year.