NORTH Cornwall MP Dan Rogerson has spoken of his 'alarm and disbelief' at the condition in which pensioners in Council bungalows at Langore are being forced to live.

Mr Rogerson visited Mrs Gillard of Menheniot Close, with Liberal Democrat Councillor, Adam Paynter, to hear about the freezing night-time temperatures in her home, and those of her neighbours.

Cornwall Council has only installed night storage heaters in the properties, which are expensive to run and only emit heat during the daytime. Householders are forced to run the heaters at a minimum level, and have to rely on extra layers to keep the cold at bay during chilly winter evenings.

The local Liberal Democrat MP is calling for Cornwall Council to install new electric central heating, which is energy efficient and cheaper to run.

Commenting after meeting Mrs Gillard, Mr Rogerson said:

"These pensioners have to choose between adequate heating, and other necessities, just because these night storage heaters are so expensive to run.

"In any event, they are hideously inefficient and by definition give out more heat during the day than when it's most needed during the evening.

"By the time it gets to 7pm, the heat is gone and thick cardigans are the only line of defence left.

"It's leaving some of the most fragile people vulnerable to illness, and it simply isn't right that people who've paid in all their lives should find themselves scrimping and shivering in this way during their retirement.

"In the course of my summer tour, I visited other Council bungalows which had recently had electric central heating installed. It's ideal for properties like these, as it really keeps people warm, but is energy efficient, and doesn't rely on ready access to mains gas. It's also very responsive to immediate need, cooling and warming up again as required.

"The Council must take immediate steps to install similar systems at Menheniot Close so that the residents there are warm for the coming winter."