News

I am sure you will all agree that 2020 been a very challenging year. Whether you have been isolating at home, continuing to work, combining work with playing the role of teacher or carer, have overcome the virus yourself or have tragically lost a loved one, I think it is safe to say that all of us have been affected in some way by this pandemic. I hope that we may now be over the worst and we might be able to look towards a more positive 2021.

Our Service Access Points (SAPs) and Hubs will be closed from 12 noon on Thursday 24 December until 9 am on Monday 4 January.

WDH is working in partnership again this year with Howdens in Castleford to provide extra supplies for food banks in the district and help the people who may be suffering the most this time of year.

From 15 December 2020, Ofgem is introducing a new affordable payment plan to help customers manage their energy bills over the colder months.

We’re giving you the chance to show your appreciation to those who have shown kindness to your or others during this particularly difficult year, by nominating them for a special festive prize.

We are proud to launch our Delivering Value for Money Report 2019 / 2020. We aim to deliver VFM in everything we do and look to drive efficiency wherever possible. We look to work with our suppliers to work jointly wherever possible, getting the best deals and delivering effective services for our customers.

As winter fast approaches, this year’s Fuel Poverty Awareness Day by the NEA (National Energy Action) will be held on the earlier date of Friday, 27 November

Our Tenant Satisfaction Survey is now underway, giving you the opportunity to have your say on what we do. To make sure we continue to provide you with a high quality service, our customer experience specialists, TLF Research will call a sample of randomly selected tenants to gather your views on the service you receive from us. TLF Research have been asked to conduct the survey on our behalf to ensure the information you provide is confidential. The survey will take place until Friday 18 December 2020.

Our community safety team are supporting West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in raising awareness to keep our tenants and communities safer this year. Due to the pandemic forcing cancellation of organised events, concerns have been raised that this could result in homeowners taking to their gardens for a private bonfire this bonfire night. Community Safety Manager, Gary Lumb said: “We all know that Bonfire Night is a great British tradition and brings with it a strong sense of community spirit which is very much enjoyed within all WDH neighbourhoods. However, this year we must ask all our customers to fully respect the advice and guidance given by the West Yorkshire Fire Service to refrain from having a bonfire in their garden.” He added: “We always want all our tenants, residents and their families to be safe, but also encourage everyone to protect the health and safety of our tremendous emergency services and fully support their work. These are exceptional times, and it is very important that our Fire, Police and Ambulance services are not placed at risk by responding to emergency situations that are preventable. We all hope that activities such as this can return in the way we have always known next year, but in the meantime, please do not have a garden bonfire and help keep you and your neighbours safe.” The West Yorkshire Fire Service said: “We are about to enter a very unusual bonfire period whilst the country is in the midst of tackling a pandemic. We are very conscious of the potential dangers associated with people taking to their gardens to host their own bonfire." They added: "Handling fireworks is best left to the professionals and with public events cancelled, our plea to residents this year is to not risk being injured or having to call on the emergency services or NHS at a time when they are so desperately needed in the collective fight against Coronavirus.”   Visit the WYFRS advice and guidance page for bonfire night.   

As you will know, we’ve had to adapt the way we provide some of our services over the past months in response to Coronavirus.