AN INVERCLYDE councillor is set to take his fight over a 'devastating' 115 per cent hike in heating bills imposed by River Clyde Homes to a new regulator.

Inverclyde's largest social housing landlords sparked outrage when they hiked up charges for their community biomass heating system in Broomhill, the poorest in the country, with only a few weeks' notice.

Residents told the Tele that they have had to turn off their heating and hot water because they can no longer afford the bills. 

At a heated public meeting with River Clyde Homes bosses, people walked out in disgust.

Now Colin Jackson is using new legislation to take the issue to Ofgem, who will take on the regulatory role in a bid to force action from River Clyde Homes.

He said: "River Clyde Homes management heard first hand the effects their rise was going to have on the finances of tenants.

"Despite that, and in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, well aware their tenants cannot switch heat suppliers, RCH took the cynical decision to impose this 115 per cent rise.

"Previously there had been no regulation for these types of district heating systems, this has left RCH completely unaccountable and answerable to no one; simply, they could and did as they pleased."

Since February this year residents in the Broomhill area have struggled to afford the increase in the cost of their the community biomass heating system.

Cllr Jackson has taken up a number of residents' cases with River Clyde Homes.

He added: "This is where I would have expected the board of RCH to step in, and provide the accountability that is obviously lacking, but they didn't.

"No one on the board spoke out or questioned the decision, no one thought, this is wrong,  this will plunge many of our poorest tenants into financial difficulty.

"A new regulatory body has been created in Scotland, with RCH and their board unwilling to reconsider or recognise the unfairness of their original decision.

"I have been left with no option but to contact the new regulator, I have spoken with them at length and hope that some compromise can be reached."

Following a public meeting, when people from Broomhill walked out in disgust, the local councillor decided to take it further.

He has now escalated the case to the Citizen Advice Bureau who will then take it to the new regulator Ofgem.

River Clyde Homes told the Tele that they have previously been in touch with the Scottish Housing Regulator on the issue.

A spokesperson said: "We can confirm that we have previously been in communication with the Scottish Housing Regulator regarding our district heating arrangements.

"Our financial wellbeing team remains available to support customers.”

Citizen Advice Bureau confirmed that they are handling Cllr Jackson's case.