Thousands of families in Stroud are struggling to pay their fuel bills, according to government figures.

Campaigners say the number of people across England unable to keep their homes warm is a “national scandal”.

An estimated 5,340 Stroud District households experienced fuel poverty in 2019, the latest Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) data shows.

“Fuel poverty is a national scandal and affects people in every part of the country,” said National Energy Action’s chief executive Adam Scorer.

He called for large government programmes to help people on the lowest incomes and in the draughtiest homes.

Across different neighbourhoods in Stroud, fuel poverty rates ranged from 4.7 per cent to 17.2 per cent in 2019, compared to the English average of 13.4 per cent.

But these estimates are based on small sample sizes and so should be treated with caution, said BEIS.

Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said variation in fuel poverty levels nationally was partly down to national policy and the state of historical housing stock.

But he said councils also have a “huge role to play” in alleviating fuel poverty: "Crucially, local authorities can ensure better enforcement of existing regulations on energy efficiency and property standards in the private rented sector.”

An Local Government Authority spokesman added: “Councils should also be given greater flexibility around introducing landlord licensing schemes, so they can ensure private rented sector housing is also energy efficient.”

A spokesperson for Stroud District Council said one of their priorities was driving up standards in private rented housing and pointed to the Warm and Well scheme.

“Together with other authorities and groups in the county it works to improve energy efficiency and affordable warmth for those in fuel poverty or with poor health conditions affected by cold and damp,” they said.

Through the scheme, SDC and its partners improved energy efficiency in 50 homes and installed first time central heating systems in 22 during 2020/21.

In the same year the partnership secured £300,000 from a range of sources and gave 260 fuel vouchers to help towards the cost of fuel bills.

They successfully bid for £1million to provide wall insulation to 100 park homes in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, and a further £1million has been awarded to insulate another 100 units in 2021/22.

Almost 30 council homes will be `deep retrofitted’ with the aim of improving energy efficiency and reducing fuel costs for tenants after SDC and others successfully bid for almost £1m from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.