RESIDENTS in one of Inverclyde's poorest areas walked out of a public meeting in disgust over River Clyde Homes' 'failure' to address the hardship faced by their 115 per cent hike in heating bills.

The Broomhill tenants group organised the event to voice their concerns at a decision to triple the cost of heating and hot water for all those forced to use the community biomass boiler.

But despite more than 80 people turning up to demonstrate the full impact of the increases, River Clyde Homes refused to act.

Instead, bosses continued to justify their actions by insisting that the cost of heating remained cheaper than other alternatives.

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Furious Councillor Colin Jackson, who has fought the hikes since they were introduced in February, said: "More than 80 people turned up to vent their anger and frustration at RCH's decision to triple their heating and hot water bills, demanding answers.

"They were met with RCH officials who were completely unapologetic and unwilling to acknowledge the financial pressures they had inflicted."

RCH infuriated residents by insisting they were getting a better deal than customers of utility companies.

Afterwards Councillor Jackson said: "Throughout the meeting, they were adamant that people were getting a good deal and the new rise still meant they were getting cheaper bills than the rest of us."

RCH compared the costs at Broomhill to the costs face by people connected to electric heating systems.

But Councillor Jackson said: "This comparision is totally misleading, the majority of homes in Inverclyde use gas combi boilers."

Residents told RCH that gas prices are now at around 6p per kilowatt hour while tenants from Broomhill are paying 17p per kilowatt hour.

Councillor Jackson said: "If you put these figures into pounds and pence, then in comparison, someone using gas would expect to pay £150 per month and those connected to the biomas can expect to pay £450, and this is before electricity costs.

"They are now being charged three times as much as the majority of us."

At the meeting residents also spoke about the biomass system breaking down, meters giving false readings and people being over charged.

In some cases people said they were turning their heating off altogether during winter because they couldn't afford to keep warm.

Councillor Jackson added: "Anger was expressed that no thought was given to how people could afford this.

"This just seemed to fall on deaf ears, with RCH refusing to acknowledge the hardship they have inflicted on the 550 homes connected to this heating.

"At this point, many of the people decided they’d had enough and walked out of the meeting in disgust."

Councillor Jackson was joined by fellow ward Councillor Michael McCormick who expressed his deep-seated concerns that people were now left to choose between heating and eating.

Challenging RCH to act, Councillor Jackson said: "I would ask that RCH to seriously consider their position and reduce the rise from 115 per cent to 30 per cent.

"Raising costs in line with supply costs is only fair.

"I would I ask RCH to implement this before anyone else is forced to turn off their heating or ends up in debt."

A RCH spokesperson said: “Increasing the district heating charges across several of our multi storey blocks was an extremely difficult decision, and we continue to support customers by providing a contribution to the running costs.

"The current tariff for the district heating system remains significantly lower than the national energy price cap.

"We have also been helping our customers by providing benefit and income maximisation advice and engaging with customers on how to make the best of their heating system."

Anyone with concerns can contact RCH on 01475 788887.