KEIGHLEY COUPLE WELCOME AN APPROACHING ‘WARM FRONT’ AND REDUCE HEATING BILLS

As Britain’s population ages an increasing number of pensioners are being forced into fuel poverty. Add to the mix the current economic crisis and a severe winter like the one we’ve just had and Britain’s elderly have never been so vulnerable. Fortunately, for thousands of pensioners that needn’t be the case as they are eligible for grants from Burnley-based Gavin Ward Ltd.

Warm Front heating and insulation grants are a Government-funded initiative, managed by eaga – the UK’s leading provider of energy solutions, and designed to help eradicate fuel poverty in the UK.

One such pensioner is 70 year-old retired textile engineer from Keighley, Peter Coward. When he and his wife experienced a broken boiler last winter he was plunged into fuel poverty, unaware of the benefits of the Warm Front Scheme.

“For three months we went without heating and hot water!” said Peter. “It was a very distressing time as we struggled to keep warm.”

Then one day, Peter saw a Gavin Ward leaflet in his local newspaper promoting the Warm Front Scheme. After being assessed via a simple and discreet telephone call, Peter discovered that, as an over 60-year-old homeowner and being in receipt of a qualifying benefit, he was entitled to a £3,500 grant to replace his faulty boiler and central heating system with a new energy efficient one.

“At first I thought it sounded too good to be true,” said Peter. “It was only when the Gavin Ward gas engineers turned up that I fully believed it. They did an excellent job and kept us well informed throughout. Since the installation we’ve really noticed an improvement in the quality of our lives.”

Peter’s new combi-boiler is equipped with energy-saving technologies that self-adjust to changes in room temperature.

“We are no longer worried about leaving our house unattended in the winter as a sudden drop in temperature won’t damage the piping system. It’s a massive weight off our minds.” added Peter.

Paul Dove, General Manager of Gavin Ward Ltd said: “Many elderly people, like Peter and his wife are fighting a daily battle against faulty and inefficient boilers which we are able to repair and upgrade. Unfortunately, many are unaware of their eligibility so we advise those who are unsure to pick up the phone and find out. There really is nothing to lose.”

To find out more about Gavin Ward Limited, energy efficiency measures, heating, insulation and/or to seek grant funding, please telephone 0800 068 8789 or visit www.gavinward.co.uk