Days before nominations open for local elections, Wigan Labour Council offers £400,000 in interest free loans to residents in Council Leaders ward.

11 days before nominations open for local elections in Wigan and Leigh, Wigan Council has announced that residents living in the Leigh ward of Leader of the Council Lord Smith, are to be offered interest free loans totalling £400,000.
www.leighreporter.co.uk/news/local/chance-to-reduce-bills-1-6540232

The interest free loans are open to people and landlords in his ward living on Glebe Street, Gordon Street, Prescott Street and Selwyn Street and affects some 700 voters in Lord Smiths ward. The interest free loans can be used to improve the energy efficiency of properties, such as wall installation, new combi boilers, double glazing, doors and loft insulation. This will in turn reduce the outgoings on the energy costs of Lord Smiths constituents.

www.wigan.gov.uk/News/Articles/2014/April/Council-scheme-to-cut-energy-bills.aspx

Although it appears that the loans are being match-funded through the Government’s Green Deal scheme, the council has gone further by offering its own taxpayer funded interest free loans and has extended its application process to 30 September 2014, whilst the governments green scheme closes to new applicants on 30 June 2014.

These Wigan Council interest free loans are not open to any other residents outside of Lord Smith’s ward,  regardless of the age, condition of the property or the financial situation of the resident.