Two areas of Keighley have been highlighted as among the coldest neighbourhoods in England and Wales as part of a campaign by Friends of the Earth to show the reality faced by people struggling to heat their home.
The environmental group is is calling on the UK government to commit to a street-by-street insulation programme to keep people warm and well, while cutting bills and harmful carbon emissions.
The Oakworth Road and West Lane neighbourhood of Keighley was named the 'coldest' in England and Wales, while Keighley Central and East is the third coldest identified by the research.
Around 12 percent of homes in both areas of Keighley are rated in the lowest energy efficiency bands (EPC bands F and G).
Friends of the Earth says the areas are 'energy crisis hotspots', where people are living on the lowest incomes and where homes have the lowest energy efficiency ratings, which means they are more expensive to heat.
The organisation has also released a series of thermal imaging photos taken by Grey Hutton which capture life in some of the coldest homes in the country.
Through its United for Warm Homes campaign, Friends of the Earth wants the government to commit to a free, nationwide, street-by-street programme of insulation and energy efficiency measures which it says is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to lower energy bills. This would help people save hundreds of pounds each year in energy costs.
Catriona Currie, warm homes campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “We have millions of people facing an incredibly bleak winter ahead, and with the festive season right around the corner.
“We’ve heard how people are making every adjustment they can to ease the enormous cost pressures they’re facing, and the cold is far from the only problem – damp issues are putting health and wellbeing at risk too.
“No one should have to live in a freezing home, just so they can afford to pay for food or meet other rising living costs. Rapidly rolling out a street-by-street scheme to insulate our heat-leaking homes, prioritising those in most need first, is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to bring down energy bills and cut harmful carbon emissions. The UK government must not delay this essential action to keep people warm and well.”
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