As the UK braces for increasingly severe summer heatwaves, the Liberal Democrats are urging the government to establish ‘cool hubs’ within public buildings to protect vulnerable communities from dangerous heat exposure. Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, is pressing ministers to collaborate with local councils to convert air-conditioned facilities such as libraries, leisure centres, and gyms into safe refuges during extreme heat events.
This call to action comes after the Met Office confirmed that spring 2025 was the hottest and sunniest on record in the UK, with climate projections indicating that summers reaching 40°C may soon become the norm. The urgency of the situation is underscored by government data revealing that 2,295 heat-related deaths occurred during the 2023 summer alone, disproportionately affecting those living in poor-quality or temporary housing.
In Bath, thousands face the threat of overheating in inadequately insulated homes, while also grappling with unaffordable energy costs in winter. To confront these challenges head-on, the Liberal Democrats are advocating for a national Home Upgrade Programme to provide free insulation and heat pumps to low-income households, along with enhanced emergency planning for extreme weather events.
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Wera Hobhouse emphasized the need for immediate action: “Many people in Bath cannot cope with sweltering temperatures in homes not designed for extreme heat. The elderly, individuals with health conditions, and families in poor housing are particularly at risk. Opening cool hubs in community spaces like gyms or libraries could save lives.
“We also call on the Government to urgently upgrade housing to keep homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
“The Government is failing to adequately prepare the UK for climate change’s impacts. It’s time they prioritize the most vulnerable.”