CIEH statement on the government's decision on warm front grants

4 January 2011

The CIEH has expressed disappointment with the Government's decision to stop accepting any further applications for Warm Front Grants until April 2011.

Commenting on the decision, Stephen Battersby, CIEH President, said:

“Warm Front has been – and continues to be – a vital element in alleviating fuel poverty and helping some of the most vulnerable people in the community stay warmer and healthier. In addition, Warm Front generates and maintains thousands of jobs up and down the country. As such it has contributed positively to public health.

“The CIEH looks forward to working with others on the design of England’s new public health service, which we hope will allow environmental health practitioners to contribute more directly to tackling fuel poverty and the problems associated with our cold homes – (cold is the greatest hazard in our housing stock and the resulting ill-health costs the NHS more than £750 million each year).

“While we welcome the idea behind the Government’s Green Deal initiative, which is due to replace Warm Front in 2012, we have yet to be convinced that this new scheme will have a sufficiently wide effect. It is important that it reaches those people most in need and who cannot afford to heat their homes adequately. The issue is not just about energy efficiency measures – it is pointless increasing loft insulation if the roof is leaking.

“Excess winter cold deaths in England and Wales compare unfavourably with many of our European partners. In the winter 2009/10 there were an estimated 25,400 more deaths in England and Wales, compared with the average for the non-winter period. This present cold spell is a stark reminder of the impact of cold weather.”

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