COST OF LIVING CRISIS: Call by Highland councillor Alasdair Christie to use Inverness Town House and community buildings as warm spaces for people struggling with rising energy costs
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Public buildings such as Inverness Town House and community centres should be thrown open as a warm space for people unable to afford to heat their homes in the winter months.
That is the call of city councillor Alasdair Christie after energy regulator Ofgem announced an 80 per cent rise in the energy price cap.
It will mean the typical household gas and electricity bill will rise to £3549 a year but the impact is set to be greater in the Highlands where bills are disproportionately higher and fuel poverty rates are among the worst in Scotland.
Cllr Christie, who is leader of the opposition on Highland Council, is also manager of Inverness Citizens Advice Bureau which is bracing itself for a flood of inquiries from October when the new prices come into effect.
“I think our worst fears have come true,” he said. “It is a horrendous price hike.
“Certainly energy companies are making an awful lot of money out of people’s misery.
“The emphasis now falls on Highland Council, the Scottish Government and Westminster to do something.
“Highland Council should open the Town House to let people keep warm in the centre of town and so people can go in there if they are worried about heating their house.
“We should think about what we are doing with community buildings.
“Could we throw the doors open to let people in at risk of poverty?”
Cllr Christie believed the logistics of opening up buildings such as the Town House would not be too difficult and that money from the Inverness Common Good Fund could be used.
“We have staff in there and what more could there be for the common good for people than keeping them warm?” he said.
“There would also be the social interaction. It would build up social resilience in communities and address social isolation and loneliness. It could do so much.
“At times like these, the compassion of the council needs to be seen by people.”
The rise in energy bills comes against a background of rising inflation and interest rates, all adding to the cost of living crisis.
“The winter months are just down the road,” Cllr Christie said.
“There are going to be a lot of families over the winter thinking: ‘How am I going to survive? How am I going to pay the increase in the mortgage and food? And how am I going to pay my energy bills?’.”
A leading campaigner for older people in the Highlands believes the idea of opening up community centres as warm hubs should be explored.
Dr Ian McNamara, chairman of the Highland Senior Citizens Network, feared rising costs would lead to many people switching off their heating.
“I think a lot of older people are terrified,” he said. “I think in the same way there are food banks, there is now talk about heat banks. It makes sense in many ways.
“It would certainly make sense to draw up contingency plans now.
“The other benefit is that it is not just the warmth – it would be human contact. There is nothing worse than being cold when you are isolated and alone.”
A council spokeswoman said: “This matter is yet to be considered by the elected members of Highland Council.”
