Canal families welcome fuel support after 'fight'

Mary Maw received £400 after months of waiting

People living aboard canal boats in Wiltshire have welcomed getting help with their energy bills.

Wiltshire Council is encouraging those living on leisure, residential or non-residential moorings to apply for a £400 one-off payment, after it was awarded money from the government.

People who live on these moorings previously missed out on the government's Energy Bill Support Scheme and said they had two winters of rising energy costs without help.

Live-aboard boater Mary Maw said: "It's "rubbish that it's had to be such a fight".

Ian Blair-Pilling, cabinet member for public health, urged people to apply for the payment

Councillor Ian Blair-Pilling said it was a "last call to make sure they (boaters) don't miss out" on energy bill support.

The council said it was awarded £5.4m to distribute throughout the 2023-24 financial year from the government's Household Support Fund.

But Mr Blair-Pilling said the money available was not limitless.

"What we're doing now is making £400 available on a first come, first-serve basis," he said.

Applications need to be submitted by 31 March via the council's website.

Single parent Mary Maw, who lives on her boat with her two-year-old daughter, received the £400 payment earlier this month.

Ms Maw said she has survived the last two winters thanks to the kindness of others.

"A good friend of mine lives in a house and got the money without having to ask, but didn't need the money," she said.

"So they gave some money to the fuel boat so that I had coal.

"It's really rubbish that it's had to be such a fight.

"It's ridiculous that it's taken this long."

People are encouraged to apply for the payments

A team from Wiltshire Council has been walking the towpaths of the Kennet and Avon in a bid to make sure those yet to receive support do not miss out.

Mr Blair-Pilling said: "We've already been to three of the marinas in Caen Hill, Bradford-on-Avon and Devizes.

"We've gone out there with staff and a laptop and helped those people we can find to fill in the form.

"This is a last call to make sure they don't miss out."