“Every heating bill is high on this estate”

It was a fight for mains gas to end years of massive bills from the cost of under-floor electric heating.

Residents on the Brignall and Shakespeare estates in Burmantofts had been campaigning for gas to be piped to their houses for years.

And by the dawn of 1986 Negas and Leeds City Council were planning to get together to pay for a supply to their estate - if there were enough residents interested.

The Shakespeare estate pictured in January 1986. | YPN

placeholder image — The Shakespeare estate pictured in January 1986. | YPN

Leeds City Council had agreed to a contribution of £14,220 towards has mains supply installation.

Negas was prepared to conduct its own poll among householders, if asked by the City Council, to see if there was a demand for gas; and to carry out a full engineering survey.

Douglas Peverell, Leeds City Council’s assistant director of housing, said there was a substantial cost involved in putting in a main.

“If only half a dozen people are prepared to have gas, it would not be worthwhile,” he said.

But judging from the comments of some residents, they would welcome an alternative for of heating to keep down bills.

One resident of the Shakespeare estate who was keen to turn off his under floor heating was Peter Capitano. His winter heating bills ranged from £190 to £240 a quarter.

“It is a talking point when the bills come round, with everyone checking each other to see if theirs is as high,” he said. “Every heating bill is high on this estate.”

Mr Capitano and his wife Elizabeth said they would welcome gas, if the installation cost was within their reach.

“I would swap this present system for anything. A lot of people just don’t use it because they can’t afford it.”

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One resident on the Brignall estate, Reg Martin, said his last electricity bill for a quarter came to £224 - mostly because of under-floor heating. Mr Martin, 63, who worked for the electricity board for 35 years, said it would be cheaper to heat the house with gas.

Coun Margaret Clay (Lib Dem, Burmantofts) said she was certain there would be a big response from residents if gas were supplied to the estates.

“I would welcome this,” she said. “I know the bills are in some cases astronomical. For the past five years people have been asking why they can’t have gas as an alternative fuel.”