Council tenants are being forced to turn off their heating because the new system that has been installed is too expensive to run, it was claimed today.
Councillor Andrew Baxter, Fort William and Ardnamurchan, told members of the Lochaber area committee that he had received a number of complaints from people following the installation of new heating systems – and particularly air source heating – in their homes.
The air source system, which has been installed in a number of council houses including some in the Upper Achintore area of Fort William and in Ballachulish, takes heat from the outside air and feeds it into a wet central heating system.
However, Mr Baxter believes insufficient information was gathered on the cost of running these systems before the work was carried out.
He called for a report or feedback on the current programme of heating replacement in council houses and for an assessment of the costs of operating the heating systems that are being installed.
He also insisted that the council should ensure properties are properly insulated before heating systems are changed.
Mr Baxter said: “I have heard lots of concerns from tenants about the cost of the new heating.
“Some people have seen their heating costs spiral because of it and that it is leading to them switching it off, which in turn will lead to other problems such as dampness.”
Area community services manager Cameron Kemp said officers would look into his concerns