Widow’s Pension Cuts: Cruel and Unnecessary

The Widow’s Pension is designed to help create security and safety for families when they lose a loved one. But this week it is under attack from a new wave of Government cuts. With less money being paid to widows, widowers and surviving civil partners from April 2017 onward.

The changes will only effect those families who lose a loved one after April 6th 2017.

The new rules will add pressure to families when they’re struggling most. Families who’ve just lost a parent are learning to cope on a single income and with one fewer parent. The previous system helped to ease the financial stress with a ‘parachute payment’ which is now greatly decreased.

Families with a terminally ill parent are facing the worst of it, with many having planned for life under the old system now having to look again at the support they can offer to their children or loved ones.

If you want the Government to change its mind and reverse cuts to bereavement benefits, then please share this article with friends and family.

If these changes effect you, friends or family you should visit www.turn2us.org.uk to get support and help.

In the News 

Here I am urging our MP to secure the rights of the European workers of the NHS

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/15128877.Lib_Dems_urge_Stroud_MP_to_bring_in__NHS_passport__for_EU_nationals_working_in_health_services/

The Focus

Not a Wotton ward story, but I have to share.

Today, myself and other member of the local Liberal Democrats were delivering the Focus in Dursley. People were fantastic, we had a great reception. 

We are committed to local action, some towns sadly are missed by councils – we are working for everyone!


Facilities

I have recently returned from a trip to Northern Ireland.

Apart from being a beautiful country I was moved by the community spirit and the people. I put this down to many things, but for the purpose of this blog I want to talk about one element.

In many public parks there are outstanding facilities. There is nothing better than a park that is clean and well kept which people can meet, chat and let their children play in safely. It enhances a town and it can support togetherness better than many things.

In my ward there are some good parks, but more TLC is needed. I know there is a group working on this and I will put my all into supporting them. In Stroud there is Stratford park, there are some great children’s equipment for younger people to use.

However, what about adults? In this age there is a need to encourage people to use parks to exercise, meet and simply hang out. In many of the Northern Irish parks there were some basic gym style equipment for people to use (and used they were!). Sadly, the outdoor gym equipment in Stratford Park is not used and looks to me as if it is no longer wanted. I would hope that maybe in the fufure we see its return.

 

Social Housing Forum

Today I attended a meeting of Stroud District Council Social Housing Forum. It was a great place to meet the reps of the different social housing areas in Stroud district. 

There were two LibDem reps in this meeting. We both are happy that the ideas being put forward are going to eventually help with having the voices of the tenants of social housing heard by SDC.

The initial proposal has been, for want of a better phrase, moderated by a group of interested parties, from tenants, councillors (of all groups) and officers of SDC. 

It is important that the right people are chosen and we are fully reflective of those people in social housing in Stroud District.

Quick Post

Today I enjoyed a call with Wotton’s neighbourhood warden. 

We discussed issues of anti-social behaviour which is happening recently. We both talked about the lack of initiatives for young people. 

Hopefully the other councillors and I can rectify this issue.