MP is keen to link up with CES
May 20 2008 by Karen Wilson, The Journal
MP JIM Cousins visited Blakelaw residents this month, to see the difference that having gas is making to their lives. And on the back of it has announced he is keen to link up with Community Energy Solutions in a bid to help more residents get full benefit of the gas provision, reducing both personal spend and carbon emissions in the area.
Community Energy Solutions is leading the project to provide the residents in Blakelaw with a mains gas supply. They have support for this project from Your Homes Newcastle, ES Pipelines, an independent gas transporter and Warm Front.
As part of his visit, Mr Cousins was welcomed into the Colwyne Place home of Malcolm and Brenda Avery whose lives have been changed by CES funding the installation of a new central heating system.
The couple have been previously heating their home through a combination of electric night storage heaters and oiled filled radiators.
After applying to the Warm Front grant scheme for assistance in installing a new gas fired system the couple were unsuccessful, and having already paid for a gas connection with their own money, they turned to CES for advice.
Chris Leek, chief executive of CES, said: “As a community interest company, we have made a commitment to ensure all of our profits are channelled back in to helping the community.
“In this case we had gone down every other channel of grant provision to try to help the Averys and having encountered no support, we chose to supply and fit the heating system out of our profits. KNW came on board to act as installers, even re-arranging some existing appointments to ensure Mr Avery received timely service.”
Mr Cousins is now keen to see how other residents in his constituency can be helped. He said: “ It is anticipated that in installing this kind of system the home owner will see their costs go down massively and I therefore will be joining forces with CES in a bid to see if we can work with Warm Front to create a pattern that supports more deserving residents in this, and of course, other areas of the North East.”
