Businesses, councillors and members of the public have joined forces to demand warm homes this winter as energy bills continue to soar.
Norwich for Warm Homes is a new local campaign run by Norwich Friends of the Earth and Green New Deal Norwich.
The initiative aims to bring together communities concerned about the impact of rising energy bills, to advocate for affordable clean energy and demand the right to a warm home.
A mix of councillors, and businesses - such as Cozy Café and Ernie's Zero Waste Shop - met with members of the public at St Mary Magdalene Church, Silver Road on December 3, to call on local and national decision-makers to put the heating crisis top of the agenda.
Dr Sarah Eglington, group coordinator of Norwich Friends of the Earth, said: "We all deserve to live in warm homes that don’t cost the Earth.
"But with energy bills nearly double what they were last year and living costs such as food and rent spiralling, millions across the country are facing a bleak and miserable winter.
"No one in Norwich should have to go cold just to stay afloat.
"By coming together, we want to build a powerful local partnership that wins the fight for warm homes."
Gary Champion, Green Party councillor for Sewell Ward, added: "The Warm Homes campaign is aiming to reach out to the whole community and is working towards building a broad base calling for change.
"The UK has the least insulated homes in Western Europe, so our politicians need to rise to the challenge and here in Norwich our council needs to insulate all council properties."
Livvy Hanks, from Green New Deal Norwich, added: "Warm, energy-efficient homes powered by affordable renewable energy will keep bills low and tackle the climate crisis at the same time.
"A mass programme to retrofit our homes for energy efficiency would also create local jobs and improve housing conditions.
"Local and national government are starting to wake up to this, but we need a people-powered movement to make sure these changes happen fairly and fast."
A follow-up meeting is planned for 7pm on December 14 at the Heathfields centre.
