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Leaks and algae caused by energy scheme to be fixed

Liam Evans
Newyddion S4C
BBC Kerry is standing in front of his home, a terraced house with white stucco walls and green mould all over the outside. He is wearing a navy winter waterproof jacket and and white baseball camp and has white hair and a beardBBC
Kerry Roberts says his house looks "embarrassing" after energy efficiency work caused green algae growth

Dozens of homes left with water leaks and green algae growth due to faulty insulation from a Welsh government energy scheme will be repaired.

The work was done on 42 homes in four villages in the Arfon area 10 years ago, and has caused leaks and green growth over the gables of the houses.

"All this green algae started to come through after a year of the work," said Kerry Roberts, one of the residents affected from Deiniolen, Gwynedd.

The Welsh government said it allocated £3.5m to repair the properties following a "review process last year".

The Arbed scheme helped homeowners in disadvantaged areas to make houses more energy efficient for free.

New windows and boilers were installed and external walls were painted and sealed to improve insulation.

But the problems soon became apparent and questions were asked about the quality of the work.

"[The house] just looks dirty and you don't want the first impression of our home to be like this," Mr Roberts told Newyddion S4C.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to be honest."

His neighbour Margaret Roberts, who had the same work done on her home, said "after a year the errors started to show".

Margaret is standing in front of her home, with white stucco walls and green mould all over the outside. She is wearing a pink winter coat with a hood up and has pink glasses
Margaret Roberts says residents struggled to "get anyone to take notice"

"It's been a very big mental worry," she said.

"We're angry, it annoys you and we just couldn't get anyone to take notice.

"Finally... we're happy that something is being done because it puts you down when you see the standard of the house outside," Ms Roberts added.

Arfon MS Sian Gwenllian said residents had to wait "far too long".

"People put their faith in this plan, a plan proposed by the government that was supposed to improve their homes but all kinds of problems appeared due to faulty work," she said.

"But now there is light at the end of the tunnel so hopefully now the work will be resumed".

The Welsh government has said the repairs would start soon and are expected to be finished over the next few years, depending on the weather.

"Residents have received letters with more information about the process and households will also have an opportunity to opt out if they no longer want the work to be done," a spokesperson said.