Councillor calls for 'warm banks' to help tackle spiralling energy cost crisis this winter
dailyrecord.co.ukA Stirling councillor has called for public facilities to throw open their doors as ‘warm banks’ this winter to support people freezing at home as energy bills spiral.Bannockburn ward independent councillor Alasdair Macpherson said vulnerable people facing being unable to heat their homes should be able to “get a heat and a plate of soup” in a warm public building – including local libraries and community centres.The call comes as Councillor Macpherson has also launched a campaign urging residents to cancel direct debits for bills in a desperate bid to convince energy firms to reduce their costs to an affordable level amidst the cost-of-living crisis.He said: “I have already contacted council officials with a view to opening public buildings to create ‘warm banks’ this winter.“Public buildings are heated using public money and we should consider opening them up so people can go in to get a heat and a plate of soup.
I have had lots of offers of help to establish these.”However, this week Stirling Council said it has no plans at present to provide heated spaces for vulnerable residents but was looking at a “resilience support” plan ahead of winter.The former SNP councillor, Mr Macpherson, has vowed to “put pressure on the Tory Government and the energy suppliers” to lower energy costs for families living on the breadline.The Don’t Pay campaign has been launched nationally, but Councillor Macpherson has opted to set up a local campaign, Don’t Pay Stirling.
It encourages people not to pay bills estimated by some to skyrocket to an annual bill of £4,200 by January.Speaking to the Observer this week, Councillor Macpherson added: “The purpose of the campaign is to try and put pressure on the Tory Government and the energy
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