CIVIC chiefs have agreed to extend a government scheme that could save residents money on their heating bills.

Warm-Up Winnall is targeted at homeowners, allowing them to get a replacement boiler free or at a reduced price.

At Winchester’s town forum councillors agreed to roll out the initiative across the city.

They heard from Winchester climate change activists, WinACC, who have conducted the awareness campaign in Winnall.

Tina Lewis told the forum there are 1400 properties in Winchester that could potentially benefit. She also told Councillors that in Winnall they expect a total of 40 households to benefit from the project.

The group’s director, Chris Holloway, asked council bosses if they felt the scheme should be extended across Winchester.

Ward councillor for Winnall, Janet Berry, said: “It’s a good campaign and if it helps people out of fuel poverty then it’s got to be a good thing.”

Councillor Chris Pines said: “What’s true in Winnall will be true in Stanmore, in Abbotts Barton and indeed in the city centre. As a town forum we ought to be supporting this.”

The project is funded by Winchester City Council using a grant from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and co-ordinated by Winchester Action on Climate Change.

Warm-Up Winnall have also said that if residents aren’t in a position to pay the cost of a boiler upfront, they could choose a Green Deal loan, with payments coming from the savings on their gas and electricity bills.

Anyone who wants to register their interest with no commitment, or would like to find out what help they are entitled to, should ring 0800 952 0037 and quote “Warm-Up Winnall”, or drop into the community centre in Garbett Road.