Plans to open warm spaces across Newcastle this winter will be confirmed within weeks, under-pressure council bosses have pledged.
City bosses have been urged to follow North East neighbours in creating a network of buildings where struggling residents can go to stay warm over the coming months, as they grapple with rising energy and food bills. Newcastle’s Liberal Democrat opposition recently called for empty shops in Eldon Square to be utilised and accused the city council last week of being too slow to take action.
Lib Dem leader Nick Cott told a full council meeting last Wednesday that “more tangible” help was needed and claimed the council was guilty of “silo working and a lack of coordination” in its efforts to tackle the cost of living crisis. Coun Cott added: “Substance, I think you will agree, is more important than warm words and blaming the Government for all the problems is not enough, particularly as Labour has been in power since 2011 in the city.”
Read More: Calls to turn empty Eldon Square shops into warm places for people who can't afford heating bills
Labour council leader Nick Kemp replied that the local authority had been “working long and hard with partner institutions” and promised that “within a couple of weeks we will have a clear plan for delivery”. He said: “We all understand what the challenges are. We are looking at warm rooms, we are looking at activities around where there are opportunities to extend the opening of buildings to provide people with warm spaces with access to activities.
“We are looking at the whole council approach, but we cannot do this in isolation. I appreciate that you want to hear a headline now, [but] what I would like to do is adopt a more strategic approach rather than rush headfirst into something without understanding whether there is replication or duplication.”
Coun Kemp’s pledge came as Gateshead Council launched a directory of warm spaces across the borough last week – including community centres, church halls, and sports clubs. The council warned that, even after Liz Truss’ announcement of a freeze on the energy price cap at £2,500 per year for a typical household bill, many families would still find paying for essentials “simply unaffordable”.
Northumberland County Council has also expanded a network of warm hubs to help people this winter.
Alison Dunn, Gateshead Council’s service director for voluntary and community sector development, said: "The idea behind Warm Spaces is to give people a way to not only save on their energy bills, but also give them the option of having a chat with others, enjoying a hot drink and perhaps trying something new if they want to.
"We know that many people across the borough, whether they're working or not, are worried about making ends meet this winter. It's an extremely stressful and often lonely time for people and bringing the community together, in a warm and comfortable place, can help with that too.”
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