SOARING energy bills have left an estimated 7,457 households in Salisbury in fuel poverty this winter, according to new figures highlighted by the Liberal Democrats.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Salisbury, Nick Radford, is calling on the Government to act urgently to help people struggling to pay their fuel bills and is asking local MP, Robert Key, to back the Fuel Poverty Bill being introduced by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath.

Speaking to elderly residents in the market square, Nick Radford said:

“These new estimates from Consumer Focus are truly shocking.

“More than 1 in 6 households here in Salisbury are in fuel poverty this winter, including 4 out of 5 single pensioner households.

“Over the last five years average gas and electricity bills have more than doubled. The prices being paid by energy companies for fuel on the wholesale markets are coming down, but the companies aren’t passing on the cuts to their customers, and meanwhile they are making big profits. This is totally unacceptable.

“As a result growing numbers of people are struggling to afford to heat their homes.

“The Fuel Poverty Bill currently in Parliament, proposed by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath, would deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home. And it would end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters – generally the least well-off – paying higher rates for their gas and electricity.

“I am asking our local MP, Robert Key to confirm that he will support the Fuel Poverty Bill when it comes to Commons on 20th March.

“The energy companies, who have made billions in windfall profits from the European Emissions Trading Scheme, must be made to pay for the programme, as well as being told to cut bills faster for their customers.”