Heating systems to be installed by end of month

Work will start on the installation of the new heating systems by the end of February.

The scheme had been due to start in September last year but due to financial issues its feasibility was left uncertain.

“We are investing almost £900,000 to put new heating systems into 178 homes. We expect the scheme to get underway before the end of this month,” confirmed a NIHE spokesperson.

Angela Walsh lives in one of the houses that will receive a new heating system. Ms. Walsh said she was over the moon when she heard the news.

“It’s been a long time coming,” she said. “I can’t wait to have a proper heating system in the house - it’ll make a world of difference to the amount of money it costs me to heat the house during the winter.”

Welcoming the news, Sinn Fein councillor, Kevin Campbell, said he was “delighted” for the residents.

“I am delighted that the scheme will no proceed at the end of the month,” he said.

“When NIHE announced last September that the scheme was to be put back, there was a lot of anger among residents.

“At that time Maeve McLaughlin MLA and I held a meeting with senior management of the NIHE to press upon them the importance of delivering on this scheme. I am happy to say that the scheme will proceed and these residents will receive letters shortly from the NIHE outlining the details.”