Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Free electric blanket testing near you

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Wednesday 9 September 2009

The Vale of White Horse District Council is urging electric blanket owners to get their blankets tested free of charge ahead of the approaching colder months. Bookings can be made for test sessions at Abingdon, Faringdon and Wantage fire stations.

Electric blankets can be perfectly safe to use provided they are in good condition and have the necessary overheating safeguards incorporated into the design. The annual testing programme has been running in the Vale for the last decade and results have shown a significant reduction in the number of faulty blankets remaining in circulation.

The tests are supported by Oxfordshire County Council's Trading Standards and Fire and Rescue and Services, RWE npower (the owner of Didcot Power Station), Oxfordshire NHS and Age Concern.

Councillor Angela Lawrence, the Vale's Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing said: "Electric blankets should be tested regularly by an expert to make sure they are still safe to use. If you are in any doubt about the condition of your electric blanket I would urge you to take advantage of these free tests. The tests don't take long and will give you peace of mind when using your electric blanket this winter. "

Testing is by prebooked appointment only, strictly on a first come, first served basis.  For all bookings please contact the County Council's Trading Standards Service on 01865 815607. Testing takes place in Abingdon on 11 September, Faringdon on 9 October and Wantage on 23 October.

The testing team will collect and deliver blankets for people who have severe mobility problems or have no means of getting the blanket to the testing venue.