LABOUR GOVERNMENT LEAVES LOCAL PEOPLE IN THE COLD

12.00.00am GMT Tue 13th Jan 2009

The Government's unfair system of Cold Weather Payments means that vulnerable Sheffield residents have lost out on money to help them through the coldest months this winter. Because of the Governments illogical system some areas of Sheffield have received £25 less than other other areas so far this Winter. Local Lib Dems are leading calls to make the system fair.

Cold Weather Payments of £25 per household are triggered when the temperature falls below 0 degrees on seven consecutive days. But Sheffield's weather is calculated by weather stations in Bingley, Linton-on-Ouse and Nottingham, rather than one weather station in Sheffield. This unfair system means that some people in Sheffield will receive Cold Weather Payments while others will not.

Between 1st December 2008 and 6th January 2009, Bingley weather station, near Bradford has triggered two Cold Weather Payments, while Nottingham weather station has triggered just one. This means that people who live in the some parts of Sheffield will receive £50, whilst other areas will receive just £25.

For example Park Avenue in Chapeltown and Margetson Crescent in Parson Cross are just 2.5 miles apart, a car journey of just 8 minutes. Yet residents in Parsons Cross will receive £25 because they fall under the Nottingham weather station whereas residents in Chapeltown will receive £50 as they are covered by Bingley weather station. Despite this the Labour Government have refused to change the illogical system.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Liberal Democrat Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: -

"By failing to make the system fair the Government are failing hundreds of Sheffield residents who need these payments to keep their homes warm this winter. It cannot be fair for a family in Parson Cross to receive £25 less than a family in Chapeltown when they are both experiencing the same levels of cold weather."

"In difficult economic times old people, disabled people, and families with young children need this money more than ever. It is time for the government to acknowledge their mistake, and for them to act quickly to make sure that Sheffield residents do not have to choose between heating and eating this winter."

Cllr Scriven added: -

"We do not need a long winded scientific study to tell us that we should use one weather station in Sheffield to measure the temperature across Sheffield; common sense can tell us that."