A plan to protect the elderly has been developed by the council after death rates during the winter were worse in Merton than any other borough.

A report last year found there were 101 excess winter deaths from 2006 to 2009.

An average of 26.5 per cent more deaths were recorded between December and March compared with the remaining months in those years – the average figure for England was 18.1 per cent.

Last year, the council was awarded £174,411 by the Department of Health to help fund a warm homes, healthy people initiative, bringing together Age UK Merton, NHS SW London, Climate Energy, Mascot Telecare, Merton Seniors Forum, Osborne Energy and Groundwork London to develop a new winter plan for the borough.

Proposals include a handyman scheme to check heating and insulation, clearing snow and ice from paths, home safety and fall assessments, installing temperature sensors and the distribution of winter weather information booklets.

Myrtle Agutter, chairman of the Merton seniors’ forum, said: “We have been pushing this for some time and we are delighted that something is now happening in the borough.

“There has been a terrific increase in energy costs and that presents difficulties for older people.

“We know there are quite a few people in the borough who are spending more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel, which puts them in fuel poverty.”

The forum acts as Merton’s representation to the Greater London Forum for Older People.

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