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One week left to complete Uist housing survey

August 3, 2016

housing

Uist residents are being urged to complete the Housing Needs Survey which they should have received in the post during the last fortnight. Results will provide important information for housing bodies working to determine future locations and types of housing.

Stòras Uibhist, Hebridean Housing Partnership, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, North Uist Development Company and Taighean Innse Gall are working together on the survey as a joint initiative.

Although a great response has been received already from local residents, more people are being urged to complete the survey before the 11th August deadline. All those who participate – whether they are home owners, HHP tenants or private tenants – are able to enter a prize draw for a hamper worth £100.

“Housing has been a priority for us since our formation,” said Kirsty MacCormick, Development Manager for Stòras Uibhist.

“I’m delighted that we are now carrying out this important piece of work, and I urge everyone to participate. When they are collated, the community’s views will inform future housing development and planning throughout Uist. I am also very grateful to our partners whose contribution is helping to make this fully an island-wide analysis of housing need.”

Impetus for the survey came from an agreement amongst participating organisations that there is a requirement to establish what the housing needs are in Uist. What type of housing is required? Where is it required? What tenure should it be? What are the key factors that influence people’s choice of housing? Which are the areas where there are peaks in demand – and why? The aim of this survey is to collate as much information as possible on these issues.

Put together by the Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust, the survey can also be completed online at: http://hscht.polldaddy.com/s/uist-housing-needs-survey. A link can also be found on the homepage of the Stòras Uibhist website. The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, HHP, North Uist Development Company, Stòras Uibhist, Tighean Innse Gall

Would you buy power from a local electricity company?

February 3, 2015

Electric lighting effect, abstract techno backgrounds for your design 

With households in the Outer Hebrides experiencing the highest levels of fuel poverty in the UK, supporting consumers to reduce their energy costs is a key strand of the approach local agencies are taking to tackling fuel poverty.

Tighean Innse Gall and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are this week sending out a survey to all households in the Outer Hebrides to find out more about electricity usage among local residents and whether they would be interested in switching supplier. This follows on from a successful fuel poverty survey carried out in 2013.

Respondents have the opportunity to win up to £150 in Co-op Vouchers, LED Light Bulbs to the value of £100, or £50 Co-op Vouchers

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar and Tighean Innse Gall are working with various partners, including the Hebridean Housing Partnership, The Stornoway Trust and Community Energy Scotland to create a community owned Energy Supply Company (ESCO) with the ability to supply electricity to all households and businesses of the Outer Hebrides. The information gathered by the questionnaire will help with the development of a Business Plan for the Energy Supply Company.

Comhairle Leader, Angus Campbell, said: “We want to find out more from potential customers in relation to our plans for local electricity supply: are Western Isles residents interested in switching, have they switched in the past or are have they faced any barriers in doing so. This information won’t just support Business Planning for the ESCO but will also help us to understand more about fuel poverty in the Outer Hebrides and the opportunities that exist in the long term for linking local energy generation to consumption.”

Stewart Wilson, Director, Tighean Innse Gall, commented: “Tighean Innse Gall is committed to reducing fuel poverty for residents of the Outer Hebrides.  The Community owned ESCO is an opportunity to provide cheaper electricity and to use locally generated energy.  It is important for the development of the Business Plan that we gather as much data as possible relating to peoples’ energy consumption and we would encourage everyone to return the survey to us.  If you would rather complete an online survey please go to www.tighean.co.uk  All surveys completed and returned to us before the 27th of February will be entered into the prize draw.”

The development of the Outer Hebrides Energy Supply Company has received funding through the Scottish Government’s CARES Infrastructure and Innovation fund.

The progression of the Outer Hebrides Energy Supply Company is one of three areas of activity which the Comhairle is progressing as a result of its involvement in the  Intelligent Energy Europe ‘BEAST’ project (Beyond Energy Action Strategies). The BEAST project runs from April 2014 to October 2016 and, along with the Outer Hebrides, includes partners from Sweden, the Canaries, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, Latvia and Norway. For more information see:

www.beastproject.eu
www.facebook.com/BEASTprojectEU
https://twitter.com/BEASTprojectEU

Filed Under: Energy, News Tagged With: Comhairle nan, Electricity, Energy, Tighean Innse Gall

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