A couple of weeks ago, we reported on rumours that funding cuts would see Manchester’s Energy Saving Trust (EST) advice centre closed at the end of March.We can now confirm this.

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council’s executive member for the environment, has told us that : “Unfortunately, the government is now cutting  funding to the EST, meaning we are no longer able to operate this service. We’re now working closely with our colleagues from across the other Greater Manchester authorities to set up an alternative service as soon as possible.”

In February the Energy Saving Trust, a social enterprise with charitable status, was awarded the contract to run the government’s new energy savings advice service . However, rather than the  localised service  they operated in the past, the Department for Climate Change (DECC) wants a centralised telephone advice line. This will be launched in April and Careline Services, a contact centre outsourcing business, will be running the service from a Chiswick call centre.

As I mentioned in the original article, the shift to a centralised service is particularly worrying. There won’t be the same level of local knowledge, and Jo and Jane Public will suffer. It also  bodes illlfor those dealing with fuel poverty- especially when the government also plans to axe Warm Front in 2013.

Councillor Nigel Murphy added: “In the meantime, Manchester residents can still get energy saving advice from our Eco House, and also take advantage of schemes such as the Get Me Toasty campaign, in which they can apply for discounted cavity wall or loft insulation.”

AGMA is expected to decide early next week about any provision of an alternative, localised  advice service.

More as we get it.

Arwa Aburawa
Mcmonthly@gmail.com