A resident of Gilton House Retirement Home spoke up about the rise in energy bills following the removal of the building’s cladding. The resident stated that they could “ill afford” the rising costs while their building remained without insulation.
Two years ago, the cladding was removed from Gilton House, leaving the building without proper insulation. Since then, several residents have faced the difficult choice between enduring higher energy bills or coping with the cold. The absence of insulation has significantly impacted their living conditions, with some forced to live elsewhere.
Bristol City Council has proposed a compensation payment of just £325 to affected residents. However, some residents argue that this amount is insufficient to cover the additional costs they have incurred as a result of the works. Fiona Lester, the interim director of the Homes and Landlord Service, stated that no final decision had been made regarding the compensation. She emphasised the council’s commitment to “being transparent” throughout the decision-making process.
The cladding had been classified as flammable, posing a significant safety risk. However, a catalogue of errors during the project have caused repeated delays, leaving residents without sufficient insulation through no fault of their own. Insulation is a key part of the home ensuring that enerygy efficiency remains high, whilst allowing for adequate airing to help avoid health hazards like damp and mould.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), some residents have had to leave their flats and seek temporary accommodation with friends or family to escape the increased cost of electricity.
Labour councillor Zoë Peat criticized the proposed compensation, describing it as a “miscarriage of justice” to offer residents “£25 per month of compensation for not being able to live in their homes.” She has called for the plan to be presented to the Homes and Housing Delivery Policy Committee, noting that “there will be other buildings in Bristol like this.”
Nigel Varley, a representative of the Gilton House Residents Association, reported that he had incurred approximately £500 in additional heating expenses since the cladding was removed. He stated: “We want a level of compensation for the unnecessary disruption caused by the delays, with noise, dirt, and the loss of amenity of our flats because they’ve been covered in scaffolding for two years.”
Mr. Varley further described the construction environment, noting, “For weeks on end, they were going around banging the scaffolding; it was terrible.”
In criticising the council’s approach, Mr. Varley called the decision-making process “grossly unfair.” He added: “None of this is our fault, and yet we’re being required to pay a substantial sum of money, which we can ill afford.”
