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News
Archive
Archived
20th September 2006 |
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Barry
Calls For Winter Fuel Payments To Be Extended |
Barry Stamp called
on the Government to extend its Winter Fuel Payment scheme to
include the disabled as this would benefit dozens on local people.
Speaking at a meeting of Party members from Stafford and Stone
he said that with the threat of higher energy charges many disabled
people, who only source of income was state benefits, would be
struggling to heat their homes properly during the winter months
"The Winter Fuel Payments certainly helps the over 60s keep
warm during the long winter months. However recently I have been
contacted by a disabled man asking why he didn't get the same
payment even though he had to rely on state benefits as his only
source of income. Indeed, a higher level of heating than normal
is a must for some disabled people, and while their current benefits
might reflect this need, winter weather does mean extra costs
are incurred. However this group seems to have been forgotten
by the Government who have simply targeted the extra cash the
Winter Fuel Payment gives on the elderly. With this in mind I
have written to the John Hutton, the Secretary of State for Work
and Pensions urging that the scheme be extended as soon as possible,"
said Barry. |
Police
Climb Down On
Speed Gun Ban |
 The
excellent work being carried out by Community Speedwatch volunteers
in both Haughton and Gnosall looked set to be stopped after they
received an instruction from Staffordshire Police to say the
speed gun they used was now banned by Ofcom. Barry Stamp was
appalled by this news, which did not only effect the A518 Speedwatch
group but also every other group in the County.
With the help of members of the the Haughton group he set about
a major press campaign to get the ruling overturned. He also
wrote directly to Ofcom insisting they reconsider their stance.
Detective work by a local journalist resulted in both Ofcom and
the Home Office passing the buck back to Staffordshire Police.
Following reports in a number of local papers the issue was taken
up by BBC Midlands TV and it was during the filming of an item
for Midland To-day that news came through that the Chief Constable
had decided to over-turn the ban and allow the speed guns to
be used again!
"Road safety in local communities such as Haughton and Gnosall
has improved because of the hard work of the Community Speedwatch
volunteers. The decision to ban the use of their speed detection
devices would have pulled the rug from under their efforts. Once
again community action got the decision reversed," said
Barry Stamp. |
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