Winters take lives. Around 12,000 people die each year from health conditions being caused or worsened by the cold. However, this year the massive spike in energy bills along with the cost of living will make millions of people unable to afford their heating. Warm banks are considered safe spaces with the heating on, to be able to aid those in need who can’t afford heating in their homes.

 

All 11 libraries in Hounslow have opened as warm banks starting October 24th, lasting until March of next year, for people looking to stay somewhere warm as winter exacts its toll. The council has plans to extend the scheme to leisure centres too. Inflation figures for the cost of living have soared as of late, at the highest seen in 40 years, which is thought to cause huge concern for many across Hounslow. Statistics show that nearly 29 percent of families in the borough live in poverty.

The warm banks will be of aid beyond simply providing a space with heating, as there will be hot drinks, Wi-Fi and staff on hand who will attempt to advise people and allocate them to resources and support they may need.

Leader of the Hounslow Council, Shantanu Rajawat states: "With the continued threat of Covid-19 and flu season upon us, I would urge people to make sure they are doing all they can to stay well this winter. The last thing anyone needs this winter is to be suffering from avoidable seasonal viruses."

Campaigners raised the concern that spaces like museums or libraries may not be able to afford to keep warm banks open. In response a spokesperson for the library and information association, CILIP, says, “It would be a terrible irony if, just as people need their library the most, they find it locked and shuttered for lack of funds. If we really want to help everyone everywhere, we should be building new libraries on every high street.”

However, despite the many problems that warm banks will help fix, it is still uncertain whether they will be the solution to rising energy bills, especially in more vulnerable places like Hounslow, with many already staying that these cannot be instated permanently.