Labour want to cut Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance for over 65s, wrecking their chances of living independently. 2.4 million elderly people need support to cope with a physical or mental disability. These people rely on disability benefits – a third of them through the Disability Living Allowance for over 65s, and two thirds of them through the Attendance Allowance.
Those over 65 who claim Disability Living Allowance currently get an average of £75 every week, and those who receive Attendance Allowance get an average of £60. This compares to an average pensioner’s income of around £250 a week. This means that some of the most vulnerable pensioners in Wallasey and Moreton could lose around a quarter of their income – amounting to a loss of around £8 billion a year.
If you are a member of Facebook, you can find out more here. Around 5,000 people have already joined that group. Click here for the Conservative petition against these cuts.
You can’t help but get the impression that the disabled are an easy target for this government – first we saw Remploy closed, and now this. Surely, the Ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions can see how devastating this cut will be for some of the most vulnerable in our community?
Walking through Liscard yesterday I was stunned to see that the phone box next to Barclays Bank had been removed. Finally. Afer all the years spent campaigning for it to either be refurbished or removed – and I know many residents have contacted the Council as well. The Council served notice on the owners, and I’m delighted that this permanent eyesore has now gone.
Sadly 
I missed the TV coverage of yesterday’s plans by Labour for the next session of Parliament. As it was the shortest Queen’s Speech since 1997, I don’t seem to have missed much! It was proof, if further proof were needed, that Labour has run out of money, run out of time and run out of ideas.
With the country facing the most difficult circumstances for a generation, an economic crisis with the longest recession since the war and the worst public finances in living memory, you could have expected some concrete action. What is the point of this Government?
Early last night was a special meeting of the Liscard Traders to finalise the details when the Mayor will switch-on of the lights in Liscard Town Centre on Saturday 5 December at 4pm – all welcome!
Straight from the Trader’s meeting I went to the AGM of the Federation of Small Businesses. Neil Dutton is the Regional Organiser and I met with him earlier this year, he’s responsible for the 1,500 members who run small businesses in Wirral. I also caught up with our candidate for the by-election in Moreton East and Saughall Massie, Steve Williams who is also a member.
Jim, who gave a presentation on procurement and how to apply managed to make it highly entertaining, (which I wouldn’t have thought possible), but as he said why does the Government make it so difficult? the paperwork certainly isn’t clear, and out there in the real world many would be put off simply because it’s so complicated. The recession has hit many local businesses hard and they need all the help they can get.
I recently visited our local rowing club based at Poulton Bridge Road (West Float) in Wallasey and was given the guided tour by the club’s chairman and general manager Jim Bibby. My son has been a member for eight years and is now captain of the men’s team – although in the past I’ve only ever got as far as dropping him off at the gate! So I was especially interested to visit and see for myself.
Jim seemed pretty nervous when I held an oar, my son doesn’t get his rowing ability from me! The weekend session was busy and I was impressed by the number of youngsters there keen to get up early and have a go.
With Jim Bibby, Chairman, Leah Fraser and Bob, deputy head at Wallasey School who coaches the youngsters
I was shocked to hear that thieves broke into the volunteer-run ‘Everyone’s Cafe’ which is based in the walled garden at Central Park in Wallasey last weekend and stole a digital camera with an irreplacable memory card. They smashed up the building and took valuables in an attempt to find cash even though none is held on the premises. So this afternoon I called in to see the damage for myself and chat to the volunteers from Riverside Day Care Centre – many of whom have learning disabilities - who run the cafe. They were still very shocked and upset by what has happened. The memory card is irreplacable and they are appealing to them to do the decent thing and return the things they stole.
This evening I was out with our team knocking on doors in Green Lane and roads off, we got a warm welcome on the doorstep and picked up a couple of issues which Cllr Lesley Rennie will deal with over the next few days.
Babs Blaine, Leah Fraser and Anna Kaye
I’ve known Babs Blaine and her husband Fred for a number of years so I was delighted that her voluntary work was recognised by the Council and she was one of those presented with the Wirral Award this year. The Award is given to those who have an outstanding record of civic duty. Babs who belongs to the League of Friends of Victoria Central Health Centre (VCH) has been a volunteer there for 39 years. Many congratulations!
The League of Friends is a voluntary organisation which supports the work of the hospital. The Friends are able to provide much needed equipment and comforts for the benefit of patients and staff through the income raised by the work of volunteers. Volunteers run cafeterias and tea bars for patients, visitors and hospital staff.
