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Meals-on-wheels price hike will be a devastating blow to elderly
• IT was disappointing you did not find space in last week’s paper for the passionate plea, to full council, by the Queen’s Crescent Community Centre cook.
She led a deputation of users of the luncheon club, and told councillors of the strain that would be felt if luncheon club meal prices had to go up by the proposed 21 per cent.
In another part of her speech, the cook told us “we see ourselves as the first line of care provision for some of our elderly people.
“If they do not come to the luncheon club we will not know whether they are unwell and require a visit from us”.
At a time when there is so much concern about older people managing at home, this price-hike seems like a thoroughly short-sighted move, being likely to take away the preventative service that is so much needed.
Could it be that this administration does not understand what it means to live on the basic state pension, and to have to count each penny? Perhaps that kind of hardship is not so common in the leafier parts of the borough. But this price-hike is sure to do significant harm to those who can least afford it. Think again, Executive.
CLLr PENNY ABRAHAM
Bloomsbury ward
• WE went with a group of pensioners last week from Queen’s Crescent Community Centre to present a deputation protesting at the fact the Lib Dem/Tory council is putting luncheon club meals up by 21 per cent – from £2.40 to £2.90.
We are very concerned that this huge rise may put many off from coming, and that it may ultimately lead to the end of the club.
This is not just about a hot nutritious meal – although this is very important for our pensioners – but about a social event where they meet, talk,play bingo and find out about trips the centre offers and meet friends.
We produce one per cent of GDP in Camden – what sort of a society are we creating if we are not able to look after our pensioners properly and squeeze them for every penny they’ve got?
SALLY GIMSON
Oak Village, NW5
• THE Queen’s Crescent Christmas lights have been on for two months. I’ve reported it to the street light department and they tell me that the lights will stay on until February because of ‘planning’.
They have taken them down in Kentish Town but left them on in Gospel Oak. We are supposed to be concerned about global warming, so why have these lights have been burning for two months?
Decorations should be down by January 6, Twelfth Night. It is supposed to be unlucky to leave them up any longer.
RAY ADAMSON
Former Mayor
Mansfield Road, NW5 |
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