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House of Commons will debate issue of Fishwick residents left with property damage

Posted on - 21st October, 2018 - 7:00am | Author - | Posted in - Fishwick, Politics, Preston News
Sir Mark Hendrick secured the debate

A parliamentary debate will take place in the House of Commons regarding the Fishwick residents who were left with property damage.

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Sir Mark Hendrick MP has been successful in securing an adjournment debate on Wednesday 24 October.

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The debate will question Ministers about a failed insulation scheme affecting residents in the area.

The external wall installation known as the Fishwick 247 Scheme was put in place by Intergen using a levy from energy companies and the installation work was contracted out to Ecogen Renewables.

Read more: Acregate Lane was shut due to fire ‘threatening to spread to buildings’

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Energy companies were obliged to deliver energy saving measures to domestic customers in specific low income areas.

Works started on 379 Fishwick properties in January 2013 and were completed the following June.

Ecogen however went into liquidation in October 2013, leaving householders and residents with substantial damage to some properties and no recourse to remedial works.

Residents reported damp, crumbling cladding, mould, rising energy costs and water seeping into the properties following the work.

Some residents report being forced to move out, not being able to open windows, respiratory problems and spending large sums of money on redecorating.

Read more: Brockholes Brow killer launches appeal against sentence

Concerned residents first raised the issue with the MP at a public meeting in February 2016.

Since then, Sir Mark has referred the matter to the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) and government departments including Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The remedial work was divided into two phases with 62 properties initially identified as needing remedial work in Phase One.

BEIS advised that the remedial works on the properties in Phase one were due to be completed in the summer, however residents have reported that the work remains unsatisfactory.

The debate will take place at the end of business in the Chamber of the House of Commons.

BEIS Minister, Claire Perry MP is expected to respond on behalf of the government.

Cllr Martyn Rawlinson represents the Fishwick Ward.

Cllr Martyn Rawlinson

He said: “The Labour Councillors in Fishwick, Jenifer Mein, Whitney Hawkins and myself are very grateful to our MP for continuing to pursue this matter on behalf of the affected residents.

“This scheme was implemented by the government using energy suppliers and private contractors but it has been a disaster for all concerned. If this funding had been put through the Council like most regeneration schemes then we would have made sure the works were implemented properly.

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“Residents affected by the sub-standard works have been left waiting far too long for a solution and ministers must take responsibility and put it right.”

Do you live in Fishwick? Have you been affected? Let us know in the comments below

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