Some Nottinghamshire councils say progress is being made on establishing 'heat banks' that would be used by people who can't afford their energy bills this winter. Ahead of a rise in gas and electricity costs this October, the concept of heat banks has emerged as one of the ways in which authorities could support people who won't be able to cope.
The scheme would see public venues such as libraries being available for people to use throughout the day for warmth. Many Nottinghamshire councils have said that work is now progressing on setting heat banks up, but some have said that the policy shouldn't be needed and that the government should instead do more to help people with paying their bills.
Professor Aoife Nolan, a Professor of International Human Rights Law at the University of Nottingham, said: "If we've got a situation in a rich country where heat banks are in use, then that is a warning sign that the government is not doing what is required to give effect to human rights. Leaving all of that aside, in many instances people are not going to be able to sleep in heat banks.
