IN MY VIEW
As Dorset basks in the summer sun, we’re more likely to be focusing on cooling down than warming up. What a lovely change that makes. On days like these, who can begin to think about turning up the heat at home when it’s sizzling outside?
But if there’s one thing we can learn from our economic mess, it’s that the good times must never be taken for granted. Prosperity should never be an excuse for complacency; it must be an opportunity for preparation. So while some several months stand between warmth and winter, now is the time to get ready for the cold snap that is certain to come.
I’m talking, of course, about combating fuel poverty. Fuel Poverty is defined as when a household spends more than 10% of its income on energy just to keep the home in a satisfactory condition. It’s deeply troubling that, in our cool climate, household heat should come at a hefty price.
I wish I could say that fuel poverty touches merely a handful of households. If only the problem was an exception to the heat-rich rule. Sadly, a staggering 13% of households across England were recently classified as fuel poor. This isn’t a passing blip. It’s a tangible trend. As the problem gets worse, rural communities like Dorset stand to suffer.
Back in August, the Commission For Rural Communities noted that more than 21% of households in villages, isolated dwellings and hamlets are living in fuel poverty, compared to just 12% of households in urban areas. There are various reasons for this. In the countryside we have a higher proportion of old, more open houses which are harder to insulate and therefore harder to heat. And it’s often more difficult accessing the cheapest tariffs via direct debit – which is why I support the Government’s proposal to enable access to the post office account.
We can’t reconstruct Dorset’s homes, but we can try to improve the fuel forecast. I was encouraged to learn that British Gas is developing a number of initiatives to help those most vulnerable to fuel poverty, such as offering discounted tariffs and free insulation for the over-70s.
There is a real chance to tap into and explore the potential of renewable technology, which could help to slash rural bills and encourage energy efficiency. So with a touch of vision and daring, Dorset’s challenges in securing affordable energy can be transformed into opportunities for creating and selling energy.
One such promising prospect is the use of biogas sourced from organic material, such as cattle slurry, food and household waste. According to a study by National Grid, biogas could account for at least 15 per cent of the domestic gas market by 2020. The products of farm activity in particular could be used to power the grid, providing a source of sustainable energy – and income – for rural communities.
They say few things in life are certain – an English winter almost definitely is. Tackling fuel poverty has to be a priority for our Government. We owe it to our most vulnerable to help them through the cold times – but we need to start while the sun’s still shining.
Hospice care changes lives. A quarter of a million patients are cared for by hospices in the UK each year, either in a hospice or in their own home. Hospice care aims to improve the lives of people whose illness may not be curable. It helps people to live as actively as possible after diagnosis to the end of their lives, however long that may be.
Last week I visited Julia’s House Hospice – Dorset’s only hospice dedicated to children – to meet staff and see how this charity supports families living with the effects of life-limiting conditions.
The experience was sobering and humbling. Julia’s House is so much more than a care provider – it’s a lifeline. And it’s amazing to think that such a vital facility is almost entirely dependent on public generosity through donations and fund-raising appeals – such as the ongoing Pyjama Appeal which aims to raise £400,000 to support an overnight service.
All those who contribute to the charity’s work deserve our recognition, respect and vitally, our support.