HOUSING bosses have admitted their flagship £7 million biomass boiler heating system in Broomhill has never been able to run properly.

River Clyde Homes has acknowledged problems after the Tele last month highlighted the plight of residents.

People living in the neighbourhood are still being left in the cold and with no hot water since the switch over to the new system, with campaigning councillor Colin Jackson fighting their corner.

The biomass boiler, which is supposed to heat hundreds of homes in Broomhill and save residents money, was opened by energy minister Paul Wheelhouse two years ago and hailed as groundbreaking.

But Councillor Jackson said: “River Clyde Homes have admitted there is a long running problem with the biomass boiler.

“They told me it has never been fully commissioned and it has never been able to run at full capacity.

“They said it was due to British Gas pulling out of the regeneration work before the boiler was finished.

“The boiler at this time does not have the capacity to provide heating to all homes equally.”

The Tele reported in January how one family had to move out of their flat for Christmas because of failures with their heating and hot water.

Another resident, Sam Wilson, a homeowner in Ann Street, said: “I am still having problems.

“It is terrible when your heating bills double and nothing works anymore.

“My old heating worked perfectly well.

“Councillor Jackson is doing what every councillor should do and fighting for the people he represents.

“There are so many residents experiencing problems.”

Cllr Jackson says he has been inundated with complaints from constituents who have to continually top up their accounts to keep the heating on.

He added: “People are being cut off even though they have put money in and then they can’t get it to start working again until an engineer comes out.”

River Clyde Homes has now apologised over the fiasco.

David Falla, their head of asset planning & development, said: “We would like to apologise to our customers who are having difficulties with the new district heating system and appreciate Colin Jackson raising these concerns.  

“We are taking action now.

“Customers who are experiencing metering and billing problems will be contacted and provided with additional advice and support on how to save money on heating bills.

“We are committed to resolving any issues as quickly as possible. We will continue to work with our customers and Councillor Jackson to deliver what we all want for Broomhill — warm homes and lower energy bills.”