A GROUP set up in Huddersfield up to raise awareness of carbon monoxide has been praised by the Government’s Health and Safety Minister – who now wants to roll out their tactics nationally.

Lord William McKenzie of Luton visited Huddersfield yesterday to meet members of the Kirklees Carbon Monoxide Awareness Group and hear about their work.

First, he went to Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing’s headquarters on St Andrew’s Road to meet the group, which was formed in 2006.

The group includes Huddersfield mum Stacey Rodgers, whose 10-year-old son Dominic was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning three years ago.

Since then, Stacey has set up the Dominic Rodgers Trust in his memory and has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of carbon monoxide and to help prevent further tragedies.

KCOAG also includes staff from Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, Sadeh Lok Housing Association, Northern Gas Networks and technical experts from gas safety watchdog Corgi.

Their activities have included fitting free carbon monoxide detectors in council homes, visiting schools and community groups and lobbying Government for support.

They have also helped organise public awareness events, including a Corgi roadshow which took place at the Piazza yesterday.

Lord McKenzie visited the roadshow, where experts were on hand to give advice and free safety equipment to the public.

He said he was impressed by the work of KCOAG and wanted to roll out some of the group’s techniques on a national scale.

“It’s fantastic work that is going on here, it is really proactive, focused and committed campaign and I think as we know it is borne out of tragedy. Maybe that reinforces the commitment that Stacey and her colleagues have.

“They have had a very innovative approach to educating people. What is reinforced for me is the message that there are lots of channels of communication that we need to deploy, learning from the experience in Kirklees, to see if we can roll out what’s been done here nationally.”

Lord McKenzie said the issue of carbon monoxide safety is higher on the Government’s agenda than it has ever been – and admitted it is due to campaigns following recent deaths like that of Dominic and Christianne Shepherd, seven, and her six-year-old brother Robert, from Horbury, who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in their holiday flat in Corfu in October 2006.

Lord McKenzie said: “Carbon monoxide safety is undoubtedly higher on the national agenda now and that’s genuinely because of people like Stacey. There are always lots of things and policy issues around in Government and it can sometimes be a challenge to prioritise.

“The point made by Stacey is that what we are dealing with here is preventable and that’s the greatest tragedy.”

Stacey, 30, of Deighton, said she felt encouraged by the minister’s reaction to her groups’ work.

“I think the day has gone really well, it was about showing everybody what we have done and hopefully getting it spread to other areas. I also got extra support from people like Sharon and Neil, which was great and unexpected.”

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman has backed Stacey’s campaigns since Dominic’s death.

He said Lord McKenzie’s visit could provide a breakthrough.

He added that pressure is being put on mortgage lenders and insurance companies to give away free carbon monoxide and smoke alarms when they sell a product. Travel operators are also being pushed to ensure all the properties they deal have detectors.

Mr Sheerman praised Stacey’s commitment to the campaign.

“The campaign has come on in leaps and bounds since Stacey took over. She is so down to earth and so passionate. She has been the magic ingredient. I have seen a lot of people with grief go into exile from the world and she has not done that.”