By Tracy-Ann Carmichael and Emylie Howie
Struggling families and pensioners will be plunged into desperate poverty as massive hikes in energy bills bite, Paisley charity chiefs warned last night.
It comes as one charity worker told how he fears residents will die as they are pushed to the brink.
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Hard-hit residents, already battling the cost-of-living increases and rising inflation, are set to be hit by another blow as a move to pave the way for the looming boom in the cost electricity and gas went ahead yesterday.
Energy regulator Ofcom gave the nod for the anticipated lifting of the energy price cap, supposed to protect domestic consumers, to cover the soaring wholesale cost of domestic fuel.
The watchdog gave the go-ahead for a 54 per cent increase, which will see household fuel bills sent spiralling from April.
It came as Chancellor Rishi Sunak stepped in to offer “limited” measures to help on the same day that the Bank of England also doubled the interest rate to 0.5 per cent.
And Renfrewshire charities say they fear that the rises will be the final straw for poverty-stricken residents.
Terry McTernan, from the Darkwood Crew, which works with residents in Ferguslie Park, told of his fears, saying: “People in Ferguslie Park are experiencing fuel poverty already, this is another blow and I don’t think it’s one that people were prepared for.
“The saving grace is that organisations like the Darkwood Crew have got our house in order. We have the community market and other initiatives to tackle food insecurity.”
He told how he harbours real concerns about the ability of residents to deal with the additional pressure, adding: “I don’t understand what local and national governments expect people to do?
“My genuine concern is that people are going to die over this.
“We live in the West of Scotland, not the Costa Del Sol. People need to put their heating on.”
He said the effects were already evident amongst residents, saying: “People are coming to our community market and not taking certain things that they have to put their ovens on to cook.
“We can help people with their food bills but we can’t help them with fuel costs.
“I’m worried about the effect on my household bills and I’ve got two full-time incomes coming in to my home. I can’t imagine what someone on the breadline living in fuel poverty is thinking about all this.”
Heather Kay, of Paisley’s Star Project, which works with vulnerable families echoed his fears.
She told the Express: “We are pretty appalled and disgusted by it.
“I know we had been prepared by money advisers through the media, but we were still pretty shocked, especially for it to come after a time where we saw individuals in crisis come to us in exponentially higher numbers.”
Heather added: “There’s only so much the voluntary sector can do, the government need to meet us half way.
“It begs the question – at what point will we no longer be able to support them?”
Heather, whose organisation is based in the town’s Wallace Street, called for further government intervention, saying: “This is Britain, people need to be fed and warm.”
And the furious charity worker added: “We have already seen a 1,500 per cent increase in people in food insecurity and the government is just not paying attention. This is going to be a massive burden.”
She claimed the Star Project has already heard horror tales of the level of sacrifice among vulnerable Renfrewshire residents, saying: “We have heard stories already where people have not had heating on in their homes throughout the entirety of winter.”
MP Gavin Newlands has also slammed the UK Government after Downing Street stepped in to offer a paltry £200 loan to Brits in October against rising electricity costs, with customers expected to pay it back later.
The SNP politician said: “The ‘rebate’ announced by the Chancellor is a cheap con-trick, a loan that has to be paid back over years rather than actual support for hard-pressed households who will see their energy bills soar by over 50 per cent in coming months.
“The Chancellor and his colleague are presiding over the worst cost of living crisis for decades, costing households thousands of pounds a year with inflation at its highest rate since 1992 – and forecast to increase still further.”
Mr Newlands, who represents Paisley and Renfrewshire North at Westminster, continued: “Coming right after the Treasury confirmed they are writing off over £4billion in fraudulent loans to businesses with little or no attempt to chase these crooks, it’s sickening that, instead of providing real support to households, they choose to claw back the £200 loan.
“The Tories and their chums have allowed deregulation and privatisation to wreak havoc in our society and our economy, and everyone is now paying the price for that track record of ideological delusion.”
“Add to that, the kamikaze Brexit that Boris Johnson and co have foisted on us – a Brexit overwhelmingly opposed by the people of Renfrewshire and Scotland – and the pressures on prices are reaching a critical stage, driving thousands and possibly millions into poverty.
“Our energy market needs fundamental reform and the cost of living catastrophe needs real action and intervention from the UK Government, whose political choices have led us to this crisis.”
The 54 per cent rise in energy prices will take average bills from £1,277 to £1,971 a year.
Those using utilities prepayment meters - around 4.5 million customers - will be hardest hit, seeing an average increase of £708 to £2,017.
It joins the soaring cost of food and petrol and diesel as a source of pain for hard-pressed families as inflation also sits at its highest rate for 30 years.
The Chancellor responded by announcing £350 of support to ease pressure, including the £200 off energy bills which will need to be repaid over five years from next year, as well as ordering a £150 council tax discount.
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