Council wants comments on fuel poverty strategy

Orkney Islands Council has published a draft strategy to tackle fuel poverty in the county and would like to feedback from the public.

Orkney is top of Scotland’s fuel poverty table, with 63 per cent of households estimated to be “fuel poor” – spending more than ten per cent of its income on heating. The figure for pensioner households rises to 85 per cent.

Frances Troup, the OIC’s head of housing, said the strategy looks at reducing, and ultimately eradicating, fuel poverty in Orkney.

“I would encourage residents, businesses and other organisations to read the draft document and provide us with feedback,” she said. “All comments will be taken into account before a final version is adopted.”

The document is available at www.orkney.gov.uk, with comments required by Friday, May 19.