Bolton pensioners have come out in force against the winter fuel payment cut and energy 'standing charges' which they describe as 'unfair'.
Bolton and District Pensioners Association were in the town centre this week urging locals to sign petitions to end standing charge – a daily fixed charge for energy even if gas and electric aren’t used – and reverse the winter fuel restriction.
The campaigners said the charge can cost £388 per year. And burden poorer people.
Florence Hill, Assistant Chair of the Bolton and District Pensioners Association said: “Regardless of how much electricity or gas you use, you have to pay a standing charge.
“Many of the people we’ve spoken to are just ordinary working-class people scraping by – and they are very annoyed by this.”
And the association says locals have given the campaign a lot of support.
Tom Hanley, 78, a member, said: “People overwhelmingly want to sign our petition.
“They are just so angry and depressed about impossibility of being able to pay.
“I've spoken to business owners. I literally reeled backwards, such was their anger about the charges.
“Everybody knows that it was bad before and now energy price caps have gone up by 10 per cent.
“Why have this government that's not been in five minutes kept the cap and cut the winter fuel allowance?”
Kevin McKeon, a former Horwich Town Councillor said: “It’s shocking that elderly people should be the target of campaigns to reduce the deficit.
“And although some pensioners are well off, I think the public know there are many who can’t receive pension credit but still are on limited incomes.
“And removing the winter fuel allowance just as standing charges are going up is unfair.
“We should just pay for the fuel we use without the standing charge.
“It’s a regressive tax.”
The energy price cap has gone up 10 per cent to £1,717 from £1,568 – increasing an average household’s energy bills by £149 a year.
It limits how much providers can charge per unit of gas or electricity, so those who use more energy will pay more.
The Bolton and District Pensioners Association has also strongly opposed the government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments.
Only those on Pension Credit or means-tested benefits will get the payment – those on the credit will get £200 and £300 if someone is over 80.
The association has petitioned the government to reverse this change before. And protested outside Labour’s annual conference.
It used October 1, International Day for Older People, to continue its fight.
The group’s chair Alan Johnson, 76, of Daubhill, said: “Despite the Government railroading the regulations to scrap the winter fuel payment for most older people through parliament, our campaign to get the policy reversed continues apace.
“As the colder months arrive more and more pensioners will be worrying how to pay their bills.
“Older people don’t like being in debt and will choose food over heating their homes.
“When you get a Labour MP resigning three months into a new government citing this ‘cruel’ policy as one of her reasons you know you have a problem.
“I’m disgusted that not one of the towns Labour MPs has spoken out against this cut”.
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