A Greater Manchester council has said libraries will be available for residents to keep warm this winter as the cost-of-living crisis bites. It comes after concerns were raised by the money saving expert Martin Lewis about the prospect that 'warm banks' may need to be used. Warm banks are spaces where people who can't afford to heat their home can go to stay warm.
Lancashire County Council (LCC) has announced that some of its public buildings, such as libraries and other council buildings, could be used as “warm and welcome places” amid fears vulnerable people could freeze to death this winter. Rising fuel and energy prices with rocketing inflation are driving more and more people to food banks and other support areas, but this is only set to get worse.
The energy cap rose to almost £2,000 in April this year, but it was announced just the month after by UK energy regulator Ofgem that this cap could reach £2,800 by October, pushing more families into hardship at the start of winter. Councils are now coming up with plans to help their struggling residents, with 'warm banks' being one of the measures discussed.
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Writing on Twitter, Martin Lewis, said: "Can't believe I'm writing this, but I wonder if this winter well need 'warm banks' the equivalent of 'food banks' where people who can't afford heating are invited to spend their days at no cost with heating (eg libraries, public buildings)?"
'Warm banks' were confirmed by LCC at a full council meeting earlier this week, but councils in Greater Manchester have been quieter on the plans. The Manchester Evening News contacted all 10 boroughs of the city-region to ask if 'warm banks' had been discussed as a way of helping residents this winter.
Tameside was the only council to issue a full statement. They suggest residents using libraries in the borough to keep warm if needed, but they are also exploring 'other options' which could also be used.
A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “We’re taking this issue very seriously and are considering all of the options available to support residents though what we know will be a very difficult period. A first port of call as somewhere to keep warm would be our libraries but we are exploring what other options could also be made available. We will publicise details of all support available locally. There is also the Household Support Fund available to residents who may qualify for support.”
Only two other councils responded to requests this week about 'warm banks'. These were Bury and Rochdale, who said while 'warm banks' had not been considered yet, they will be offering residents support packages to help them this winter.
A Bury council spokesman said: "We have no plans to do this in Bury at present. Our approach is to be very analytical in identifying people at risk/in greatest need and proactively assisting them in their own homes.
"Last night (Wednesday), cabinet approved our new cost of living/anti-poverty strategy. This includes very targeted allocation of over £1.5m of household support funding and an additional £340k from the council, to support people through a number of specific ways, e.g, a £100 payment to all pensioners on council tax benefit.
"Other funding pots include a hardship fund for both pensioners and those of working age, along with support for families through free school meals over the holidays and grants towards school uniforms."
Rochdale Council also said that while they would not be officially opening 'warm banks', their winter support would be 'widened'. This would be discussed more at upcoming council meetings, a spokesman said, including the cold weather payment, free or part-funded new boilers and insulation, and winter fuel payments for over 65s.
The remaining seven councils in the city-region did not respond with a comment or clarification about 'warm banks'. However, information about local support can be found on individual council websites, or by contacting local citizens advice centres.
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