Council axes voucher gift scheme for pensioners
Wednesday 8th December 2010, 8:00PM GMT.
Parish council chiefs in part of Telford have axed an annual Christmas box scheme which offers free supermarket vouchers to hard-pressed pensioners.
Lawley and Overdale Parish Council members said they wanted the money spent on the vouchers to benefit all residents, instead of just helping the elderly.
The Christmas box fund has shared out a total of £5,000 in Sainsbury’s vouchers to pensioners since 2004.
The decision to scrap the scheme has sparked an outcry but parish council clerk Ella Fletcher said: “We are stopping the vouchers in order to lower the parish precept to Telford & Wrekin Council which will drive down costs for everyone.
“The £5,000 of Sainsbury’s vouchers which we purchased eight years ago have now run out and we have no plans to get any more, now or in the future.”
Great Dawley Parish Council member Carol Williams, who lives in Lawley, said stopping the voucher scheme showed a lack of Christmas spirit.
She said: “These are just the actions of Scrooge.
“No alternative has been considered and no explanation given for this lack of seasonal goodwill.”
Great Dawley Parish Council announced last month that some of its senior citizens would receive grants to help with Christmas dinners and parties.
This initiative gives £200 to sheltered home schemes in Dawley and Malinslee which apply to the council for help.
Councillor Shaun Davies said: “Despite these tough financial times that we all face the council has ensured that the Christmas parties for our pensioners are safeguarded and more pensioners are able to have a party through our new grant scheme.”
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Carol Williams and TAWPA Cllrs – tired to scrap the Chritmas Parties and they opposed the budget which introduced the grants to sheltered home schemes.
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I’m not a pensioner but why should they get vouchers and not me? I’m struggling with bills as much as they are
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I think pensioners should think themselves lucky that they have received this in the past – A lot more did not receive anything. The council seem to be being critisised for their generosity in the past instead of being given a big thank you and people should appreciate that these times are hard for all area’s.
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