SHELTERED housing tenants have spoken of their anger and disgust after a council voted to proceed with plans to introduce a fixed weekly heating charge.

Almost 500 people, including 29 of the 35 residents of Queens Court in Richmond, signed a petition against Richmondshire District Council’s proposal to replace individual smart meters with a fixed charge of £3.30 increasing to £6 by 2020. Some claimed this would triple their annual heating bills and would result in careful tenants covering the cost of the less frugal.

Councillor Clive World raised the issue at a council meeting on Tuesday. Residents spoke with passion about the potential impact of the changes, which have already been introduced at three other council-run complexes.

However, Cllr World’s motion did not receive full council support, and decommissioning work is expected to begin within the next four weeks.

Colin Dales, corporate director of operations at the council, said:“The current system is old and will fail at some point with a replacement not representing good value for money.

“The current contractor has also confirmed that parts and the software needed for the current system are becoming increasingly difficult to source due to the age of the system.

“The council wants to avoid waiting until the system fails and the associated inconvenience this will cause for residents.”

Tenant Ellie Bland said:” I feel disgusted, angry and upset that the views of vulnerable elderly people can just be dismissed like this.

“It was block voting by the Conservatives.”