A PACKAGE of home safety and energy efficiency measures to help West Devon householders keep warm, safe and save money is being launched in the borough later this month. At this time of year homeowners and tenants find they have to dig deeper into their pockets to keep their homes warm and dry. People who spend more than 10% of their income on heating their home are most at risk of not being able to keep warm enough. In response to the problem, West Devon Borough Council is setting up a new energy efficiency grant called Warm Up West Devon. The grant is being funded through fuel suppliers with additional funding from partners, including the borough council. The partners are the Devon Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (DEEAC), West Devon Care and Repair, West Devon Community Safety Partnership and Devon and Cornwall Police. The package of measures include encouraging people to claim benefits they are entitled to, home security measures which include free smoke alarms as well as supporting residents to take up the Warm Up grant. The scheme has been brought in as part of the council?s new private sector housing renewal strategy, which was approved by councillors in January. The strategy sets out how the council will spend money set aside for improving housing across the borough over the next two years. Cllr Margaret Garton, chairman of the future planning and housing committee, said: ?We?re very proud to see the launch of Warm Up West Devon and are delighted that we can help our residents in this way. ?We have been able to maximise the funding of the scheme by pulling in money from partners. I hope that residents will take up this golden opportunity which will be of benefit to so many people.? Warm Up West Devon will initially be rolled out across the Lydford, Exbourne and North Tawton wards, starting in Lydford Ward on Tuesday March 22. Every resident in the chosen wards will be contacted over the next six months, to see if they want to take part. A Warm Up West Devon envelope will be dropping onto doormats over the next few weeks. For further information call 0800 512012. Eligibility criteria may apply to some of the grants listed. To find out exact details of housing grants or about the council?s housing strategy 2005, call environmental services on 01822 813600.