Almost a third of households in West Dunbartonshire are living in fuel poverty, new figures have shown.
Statistics compiled by Energy Action Scotland show, on average, 29 percent of local families are struggling with their bills – above the Scottish average of 24 percent.
In neighbouring Argyll and Bute the figure is even higher, sitting at 32 percent.
Fuel poverty is defined by the Scottish Government as any household spending more than 10 percent of their income on energy – after housing costs have been deducted.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie is now calling on the Scottish Government to do more to help ensure people can afford to heat their homes.
She said: “I find this really worrying that so many people in my constituency are struggling at a time when fuel prices are increasing and the cost of living is also rising.
“The Scottish Government released an action plan at the end of last year saying they hope to eradicate fuel poverty as far as reasonably possible by 2040, but that is far too long a wait for those struggling now.
“The SNP must get a grip on this or it will push more and more people onto the breadline.
“It is shocking that almost a third of people in West Dunbartonshire and even more in Argyll and Bute are struggling to pay their heating bills and being forced to choose, in many circumstances, between heating and eating.
“Our foodbanks are busier than ever as a consequence and something must be done.
“I have been calling for action on this over a number of years and yet many already hard-pushed people continue to face very difficult situations.”
In response. a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to ending fuel poverty entirely and have the most ambitious and comprehensive fuel poverty legislation on this in the UK.
“We have allocated over £1billion since 2009 to tackling fuel poverty and improving energy efficiency.
“Our Fuel Poverty Strategy, published last month, sets out a range of comprehensive actions we will take to tackle each of the main drivers of fuel poverty, ensuring a greener, fairer future for everyone in Scotland.
“Ground-breaking investment of at least £1.8bn over the next five years is also underway to help transform the heating and energy efficiency performance of Scotland’s buildings still further.
“We recognise people will be concerned about rising energy bills this year and we have made £10million of funding available through our Fuel Insecurity Fund to help people struggling with their heating costs this winter.
“We have also increased funding this year for our Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, which can help households in fuel poverty make their homes warmer and more affordable to heat.”
They added that funding for affordable housing increased by £174m in the latest budget.
