A helpless Highland pensioner says the last two years of his life have been “wasted” because of problems with a new heating system in his home.
Former soldier Donnie McNeil, of Murray Place in Rogart, said his last electric payment was £182 for the period between November 29 and the end of December – double what he would have paid before.
And the 67-year-old from Rogart was brought to tears as he explained that the lack of proper heating was a factor in his wife Brenda, who has severe rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia and is often housebound, moving to another home in Dornoch – 12 miles away – last year due to escalating problems with damp.
His council home was one of several hundred in the north to have replacement systems fitted as part of a Scottish Government-funded heating and insulation upgrade.
Mr McNeil believes there is a fault with the new equipment and that his key meter has been set at too high a rate. Despite several calls to the council and SSE about fixing the problem, he claims he has not received an adequate response.
He spoke about his kitchen heater not working properly for months, forcing him to use three extra oscillating heaters to stay warm.
Mr McNeil, who once served in the Royal Artillery and the Seaforth Highlanders and the Queen’s Own Highlanders, said: “I just need to get it all sorted out. It’s wasted two years of my life, and my wife can not live here anymore.
“I want someone to come here and see what I have got. It’s costing me so much money and I am fed up with the lack of response.
“Other folk here are going through this and they probably don’t know what to do or who to contact. I think the fact we are rural is a big factor.”
Mrs McNeil said: “This has been going on for two years and nothing has been done. The bills have doubled compared to what we were paying before. Up to £50 a week is a lot of money. He can not afford that and doesn’t get much from his pension, and doesn’t get carer allowance. But we love each other and that’s it.”
The problems started in December 2015 when the couple’s bills rocketed after six assorted heaters were installed to replace the storage heaters previously relied on. They said they stumped up £130 between December 3 and 15 that year.
Former East Edderton and Sutherland councillor Graham Phillips, a local councillor until May 2016, said Mr McNeil’s case is one of three which he is aware of in the Rogart area.
Mr Phillips stressed that, although the new systems have worked for some tenants, it has not been the case for all, adding: “I am really concerned about the council’s duty of care to the tenant, which has not been fulfilled.
“The council has responsibility to make sure the tenant is not disadvantaged. These tenants are in the exact same position they were in two years ago. Someone in the council has to own it and stay on the case until it’s fixed.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The council is aware of the concerns raised by Mr McNeil and these issues are being investigated by the Council with a view to resolving them as soon as possible.”