Member Article

Stockton Grandmother Benefits from £6m Scheme

A Stockton woman battling a chronic lung disease can now breathe more easily thanks to a £6m scheme, which has also helped cut her energy bills by more than £600 a year.

Mary Moran, who suffers from a range of health problems including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), was one of the first to benefit from the GoWarm Parkfield initiative, which is currently targeting 900 properties in the town’s Parkfield, Town Centre,Mill LaneandNewtownwards.

The scheme, run by Boldon-based fuel poverty specialist GoWarm in partnership with Stockton Borough Council, is installing a range of energy efficiency measures in eligible properties, with Mary receiving a new central heating system, external wall insulation, loft insulation and draught proofing in herTarring Streethome in February 2012.

Four months on and the 59-year old has spoken of her joy at being part of the scheme and the difference it has made both to her health and bank balance.

The mother of five and grandmother of 18, said: “Since moving into my home seven years ago I have struggled to keep the property warm and was often forced to wear thick clothing and still have the heating running all day. Not only did this work out really expensive, often costing between £20 and £30 a week, but it also made the symptoms of my COPD harder to deal with.

“Now, after having the work done by GoWarm and Stockton Borough Council, my cough has gone and I only have to put around £10 a week on the meter, with that expected to be even less in the summer. I’m already planning on joining my daughter and her family for a holiday inBulgariawith the money I’ve saved and even more importantly I now enjoy coming home to a warm and welcoming house.”

The £6m GoWarm Parkfield scheme, which is expected to cut the borough’s carbon emissions by around 180,000 tonnes, is being funded by North Yorkshire-based Eggborough Power Ltd via the Government-backed Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), which targets households in areas of low income to improve energy efficiency standards and reduce fuel bills.

Work is due to be completed on the project this summer, with GoWarm starting work on a similar £5m scheme inMiddlesbrougharound the same time.

Karen Hindhaugh, Director of GoWarm said: “We always knew that the GoWarm Parkfield scheme would make a difference to residents living in the area but after hearing Mary’s story we now know just how significant that difference has been.

“We are honoured to have helped bring about these changes in partnership with Stockton Borough Council and are already looking forward to achieving similar results inMiddlesbrough, where we’ll be targeting around 11000 homes.”

Households in Parkfield that don’t automatically qualify for the GoWarm Parkfield scheme can still apply for heavily subsidised energy efficiency measures, including cavity wall and loft insulation, as well as free energy efficiency and benefits advice from GoWarm’s team of experienced assessors.

For more information visit www.gowarm.org.uk, call 01642 605130, visit the GoWarm Parkfield office at Blue Post Yard, Stockton or search for GoWarm Parkfield on Facebook and Twitter.

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