Back in the warm after months of misery
A HARD-up pensioner who faced the coldest winter in over a decade without hot water or central heating has fixed the problem without government help. In January, the POST revealed that George Keegan, 84, of Suffolk Road, Dagenham, could not afford a new b
A HARD-up pensioner who faced the coldest winter in over a decade without hot water or central heating has fixed the problem without government help.
In January, the POST revealed that George Keegan, 84, of Suffolk Road, Dagenham, could not afford a new boiler system after his heating broke down in September last year.
Warmfront, a government scheme which helps vulnerable homeowners with the cost of heating, offered Mr Keegan a grant of �2,700 towards boiler replacement costs of �3,717.
Mr Keegan could not afford to pay the remaining �1,000 to the government contractors and has since been braving freezing temperatures with only an electric blanket.
British Gas has now repaired the boiler for a sixth of what government contractors asked for.
Mr Keegan's daughter, Lynne Conway, 53, of Harold Wood, Romford, said: "My father is absolutely delighted. It's such a relief."
Most Read
- 1 Dagenham woman forced to pay £1,000 over rotting waste in garden
- 2 Homes under the Planner: Development that could be coming to the borough
- 3 School's new headteacher on wellbeing and helping pupils realise potential
- 4 Ofsted praises progress of Dagenham school after inspection
- 5 Coroner's report outlines concerns with Stephen Port murder investigations
- 6 Eastbury Manor House to reopen 'as soon as possible'
- 7 'He will not survive the cold': Family fear for missing Sphynx cat
- 8 Care provider taken to court by council in waste disposal dispute
- 9 Gallery: Hidden photos reveal London's East End in the 1960s
- 10 'I just shut my eyes': Murder accused tells of moment he ran over victim
Mrs Conway spent months on the phone to Warmfront and the council to try and solve the problem until she contacted her father's gas supplier.
She said: "British Gas just repaired the actual copper cylinder. That was all that needed doing.
"It will cost about �600.
She added: "My father feels so much better now. He said he was so glad to get up and be able to wash himself and get things done.
"It was such a shame we had to go through all this.
"I would say to people to rather get another quote from somebody else.
The government has helped 635,000 households and pumped �852 million into the scheme since June 2005 but many poor households are still missing out or have to wait months for repairs and installations.
According to a report from the National Audit Office in February, over 20,000 people who contacted Warmfront did not proceed with the work because they could not afford to top-up costs.
A council spokesperson said: "The council has been working closely with Mr Keegan's daughter and all other parties to reach a satisfactory conclusion to this matter.
"We are pleased it has now been resolved.
