A city council is considering providing ‘warm banks’ for residents amid fears their physical and mental health will be affected by freezing homes.
There was united political support for the proposal at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to provide shelter as a “Dickensian” Christmas approaches.
The request for protection from the cold, as well as a hardship fund, was put to the local authority with one councillor warning the energy crisis could soon see “70% of local people in fuel poverty”.
