Village piping up for Christmas

About 20% households in the area suffer from fuel poverty

Pipework is nearing completion to connect more than 100 homes in Cornwall to gas supplies.

The work in the village of Dobwalls, near Liskeard, will connect two council estates and some private homes to the mains supply.

The project is part of Caradon District Council's work to bring all of its properties up to the government's Decent Homes Standard.

The work is expected to be finished by Christmas, the council said.

Efficient boilers

The council said the work was the first major mains gas extension scheme in Cornwall in several years.

There will also be provision for privately owned homes on nearby estates to connect to mains gas for about £150 each.

The 90 council houses in Twelvewoods Close, Twelvewoods Place and Havett Close are also to have gas central heating installed using energy-efficient condensing boilers.

Caradon Council had originally planned to install electric central heating as there was no mains gas in the north of the village, and the cost of extending a gas pipeline was usually well out of the reach of councils and social landlords.

But a partnership with ES Pipelines has ensured that the total cost to the council is coming to less than that of upgrading electrical supplies to the properties.

Councillor John Turner said: "Most of us take being able to light and heat our homes for granted, but fuel poverty is a very real problem for people in areas without mains gas, which includes large parts of Cornwall.

Government deadline

"In the Dobwalls area alone an estimated 20% households suffer from fuel poverty.

"That makes this new mains gas pipeline particularly welcome both for council tenants and nearby privately owned homes."

Work on installing the central heating systems will begin in December and should be finished by the end of February 2007, the council said.

The council said it intended to bring all of its homes up to the Decent Homes Standard by 2009, ahead of the government's deadline of 2010.