Council tenants urged to switch on their heating…
Council tenants are being urged to switch on their central heating before winter arrives so that any problems can be dealt with swiftly.
Birmingham City Council cabinet member for health and wellbeing, Cllr John Cotton, said: “Cold weather can be hazardous for our health, particularly for our elderly and vulnerable citizens and those suffering with respiratory illnesses.
“As winter approaches we should all be on our guard against health problems. I would urge all council tenants to switch on their heating before the cold weather arrives and if there are any problems call the repairs contact centre early on.
“All council tenants have a free annual gas service but, as with anyone else, problems often only come to light when the heating is switched back on after the warmer months. Turning on the heating now will help us to manage the demand for repair call outs more efficiently.
“I would also like to remind tenants that if they smell gas they should contact the national gas emergency service immediately and then the repairs contact centre afterwards.”
National gas emergency service - 0800 111999
Gas repairs contact centre - telephone 0800 073 3333, textphone (for people who are deaf or hard of hearing) 0121 678 5343. If you are using a mobile phone call 0300 555 0404.
For further information about housing repairs visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/order-a-repair
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For further media information contact Debbie Harrison on 0121 303 4476
Notes to editors
This advice has been issued during national Gas Safety Week (15 - 21 September) which is a national safety campaign to raise awareness of gas safety in the UK's 23 million gas fuelled homes.
