KENDAL councillor Clare Feeney-Johnson has been nominated for a ‘Heat Hero Award’ for her work on the district council’s energy switching scheme.

Coun Feeney-Johnson, who serves as a town, district and county councillor, came up with the idea for the ‘Power Up Your Community’ initiative.

The scheme gives communities the chance to reduce their energy bills by banding together and offering their business to suppliers.

SLDC was the first local authority in the UK to launch a collective energy-switching scheme and it has since been adopted by other councils.

The Heat Heroes Awards are run by charity National Energy Action (NEA) and sponsored by Scottish Power.

NEA said they are designed to “recognise individuals who have made a significant contribution to helping people living in fuel poverty in their local community.”

Coun Feeney-Johnson is one of 14 nominees who will now go to an Awards Ceremony at the House of Commons on April 8.

She said: “It was a real surprise because you always imagine there are people out there doing more.

“This is an issue I’m really passionate about and it can be difficult to get the information out to people.

“Helping people prepare for winter is definitely an ongoing process.”

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron nominated Coun Feeney- Johnson for the award.

Mr Farron said: “There are thousands of people around the country who have never heard of Clare Feeney-Johnson but have her to thank for this scheme.

“It is a simple idea but has led to many people on low incomes having a significant cut in their energy costs.”