Heating oil users in Somerset are set to receive crucial financial assistance through a newly established crisis and resilience fund, announced recently by the government. This initiative responds to a sharp increase in heating oil prices driven by geopolitical tensions near the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for one-fifth of the world’s crude oil shipments.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer unveiled a £53 million support package aimed at helping 1.5 million UK households reliant on heating oil, focusing on those most vulnerable to rising costs. Somerset Council will administer £1.16 million of this funding through its crisis and resilience fund, which is designed to provide targeted aid to families facing significant financial hardship over the next three years.
Replacing the previous household support fund, this initiative officially launches on April 1 with five core objectives focused on community support and stability. Councillor Heather Shearer, portfolio holder for children, families, and education, praised the fund during a recent executive committee meeting in Taunton, emphasizing its strategic and sustained approach to crisis relief.
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“The fund’s work will impact residents across all ages and communities,” said Shearer. “It replaces short-term schemes with a long-term, stable source of support, ensuring the right help is available when people need it most.”
Council leader Bill Revans acknowledged the global events contributing to increased fuel costs and the resulting pressures on families. “We are reviewing our existing cost of living support measures to ensure they remain effective and ready to meet emerging challenges,” he said.
While the fund offers much-needed relief, some local representatives urge further government action. Rachel Gilmour, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead, criticized the £53 million package as insufficient, highlighting that over 42% of households in her constituency are vulnerable to heating oil price increases. She called on the government to extend rural fuel duty relief and implement a temporary zero VAT policy on heating oil to provide more substantial support.
“It’s clear the government has underestimated the heating oil crisis’s impact on rural communities,” Gilmour stated. “The current support is merely a sticking plaster on a gaping wound and won’t sufficiently alleviate the financial burden for many families.”
For residents seeking more information about the fund and available support, Somerset Council offers assistance via phone at 0300 123 2224.