Labour in Leeds

Councillor Richard Lewis has welcomed news that residents of Spooner houses in Swinnow can look forward to warmer winters after fears that their unusual style houses would be too difficult to insulate proved to be unfounded. 

Insulation works planned for the timber-framed Spooner homes were put on hold after a worker carrying out insulation work on similar homes in Horsforth put his foot through a ceiling.  It was feared that it would be impossible to do any work in the roof voids because of safety concerns and the homes would have to be left out of the Winter Warmth programme that was bringing benefits to other local tenants. 

Concerned residents asked Councillor Richard Lewis to see if he could help.  He raised the issue with Leeds West North West Homes, the Arm’s Length Management Organisation that runs council homes. 

Extensive survey work was carried out which established that the Swinnow properties were more robust than the ones in Horsforth and that insulation could be provided. Leeds West North West Homes will now undertake survey work to determine which houses require the increase in insulation from 4 inches to 8 so that work can start as soon as possible.   

Councillor Richard Lewis (Pudsey) said “The people who live in the Spooner houses were very worried that they were going to miss out on the work to improve their loft insulation and I was happy to do anything I could to ensure that they were included in the programme. 

I am sure that they will all be extremely relieved that the problems encountered in Horsforth will not affect the work to their homes. 

I am hopeful that the survey work can be carried out quickly so that all necessary improvements will be made as soon as possible.”