Darlington Red Hall Community Centre's shock over £8,800 energy bill rise

Martin Landers, treasurer at Red Hall Community Centre, has warned the Government of a ‘catastrophic’ situation if the rising cost of energy bills is not urgently addressed.

His warning comes after the Red Hall centre was told its heating bill will likely rise from £2,200 per year to a staggering £11,000 per year in March 2023.

The estimate was given by energy brokers trying to find the best deal for the building six months before its energy contract renewal next spring.

Martin says he is hoping that factors leading to the current extortionate prices have changed by then otherwise the centre would be forced to increase its room rental prices, thus burdening community groups with extra charges.

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He said: “The quote was something like a 600 per cent increase, it’s crazy.

“So naturally you stay on your current contract and keep your fingers crossed something changes between now and next March because it would be absolutely horrendous.”

Red Hall Community Centre trasurer Martin Landers Picture: Northern Echo

Martin said passing costs onto community centre users would be a difficult thing to do.

He explained: “Say you have a bingo group of ten ladies who pay £2 each and we had to double our room hire to £30, that would double what they have to pay and they are struggling themselves.

“Community groups that use buildings like ours are providing important social and recreational activities and passing costs on to these groups affects disadvantaged people the most.

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“It isn’t just us, everyone running a big commercial building is wondering what to do.”

Martin said that nationalisation of energy firms could be one option to ensure prices are brought back in line and the resolution of the war in Ukraine could also help bring prices back down.

But he believes more needs to be done now to prevent the UK public and businesses from 'being held to ransom' by energy firms and the countries boasting natural gas and oil resources.

He added: “I have got to remain optimistic that something will give, that the government will give, because if it doesn’t, it isn’t just us, every single business in the country is going to go bankrupt.”

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