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 (Image: Newsquest) 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 red.
