A plan is being drawn up to open council buildings and community facilities to people for places to stay warm this winter.

A scheme, similar to the holiday food programme for children, is being looked at to ensure people can get a heat if they can’t afford to turn their heating on due to rocketing energy costs.

Talks are taking place this week between the council, Glasgow Life and the voluntary sector in the city to see what is possible.

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The ambition is to have somewhere in every community that people can go if they need heat in the colder months.

With bills set to rise by more than 80%, when the price cap is raised again in October there are fears people will freeze at home as bills are unaffordable for many.

Bills are due to rise, on average, to more than £300 a month when the cap is raised again.

Even with the money from the UK Government, of £400 over four months, people are fearing they will not be able to turn on their heating.

Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, revealed in the Glasgow Times yesterday the idea of ‘warm banks’ was being progressed.

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She said: “The council is working with partners in the third and housing sectors to put in place a city-wide plan to use our network of assets – from libraries to community centres to school canteens – to make welcoming places available to those in need during the winter months.”

Talks are now starting to ensure something is in place for when the temperature drops in the winter months coinciding with the rising cost of gas and electricity.

Ruairi Kelly, convenor for neighbourhood services, said the plan is for facilities to be opened up and activities organised to tackle the problem of unaffordable heating and also social isolation.

He said: “It is clear there is potentially serious difficulties some people are going to be in and people maybe don’t yet understand the magnitude.”

He said the plan was people will have somewhere warm to go in every community.

The councillor added: “While we expect the majority would be older people it will be for all ages.”

He said: “The council has buildings to use and others have staff to organise activities.

“The ambition would be communities across the city would have somewhere depending on the resources available.

“There shouldn’t be anywhere in the city where people are having to sit in the cold at home.”