THERE are urgent calls for council chiefs in the Cotswolds to provide public warm places for people who struggle to heat their homes this winter.

Cotswold District Council (CDC) declared a cost of living emergency in July this year as one in five local children are in poverty.

Civic leaders are extremely worried about the impact further price rises will have on already struggling families.

And now Conservative councillors are putting forward plans to help people who are struggling to heat their homes during the day.

What plans are they putting forward? 

They are suggesting that parish halls, church rooms and other community buildings such as libraries, leisure centres and museums and district council offices could be used.

Councillor Gina Blomefield (C, Campden and Vale), who is expected to table the motion at the full council meeting today (September 21), said: “We are all keenly aware that many people and especially those who are elderly pensioners, disabled or in some way vulnerable will find it challenging to keep their homes sufficiently warm during the day as well as at night this winter due to the soaring costs of energy.

“Some of the councils around the country are already making contingency plans to open ‘public warm spaces’ where those in most need can go during the day safe in the knowledge that they will be warm and cared for.

“Many of the parish halls, church rooms and other community buildings such as libraries, leisure centres and museums in the Cotswolds including CDC’s offices could be used in the same way.

“They would also be able to offer warm drinks or soup as well as advice on how to obtain help with energy related problems.

“We suggest this would provide wonderful humanitarian support for some of the most vulnerable in our communities and recommend a simple process is agreed to fund this vitally needed help. 

“We ask that the agreement at the last full council for a cross party working group to be set up should be done urgently to implement ‘public warm places’ and also to look at other ways to help our Cotswold residents most negatively impacted by unaffordable heating and living costs.”