1200 SIGN UP AGAINST "MEAN SPIRITED" CHARGE

30-11-2009

More than 1200 people signed a petition in Wednesfield this weekend against Wolverhampton Council’s plans to dramatically increase Meals on Wheels charges - and now local MP Rob Marris has joined the fray, suggesting the new prices are “mean spirited”

The signatures were collected in just three hours on Saturday and will be followed by similar events in Bilston High Street next week (December 5) and Queen’s Square in the city centre a week later.

Hot meals are currently charged at £2.20 but it’s proposed to increase them to £4.40 – with a frozen alternative being offered at the existing price.

Cllr Steve Evans who organised Saturday’s signing said: “The Council say this is the government’s fault, but under the Fairer Charging guidelines they’ve issued, there’s no obligations upon the local authority to increase the charges.

“We’re also worried that the Council would like to drop off a fortnight’s frozen meals at a time. But these are meals which are taken to people who don’t see anybody all day.

“If that happens, they’ll miss out on having someone to pop by and say ‘hello’.”

Wolverhampton South West MP Rob Marris has written to the responsible Cabinet Member Cllr Les Pugh, asking him to withdraw his “mean spirited proposal”.

Marris adds: “The meals on wheels home food delivery programme provides a literally vital service to some of the most vulnerable residents of Wolverhampton; those who find it difficult to cook for themselves.

“Moreover, having a daily visit from a friendly meals on wheels worker is a good way of checking that service-users have not got into difficulties during the previous 24 hours.

“Conversely, financially pressuring service-users into accepted frozen meals runs counter to much of the purpose of the service itself, by charging them an extra £2 per meal to have their delivered meals heated.”

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