You will all know I’ve been doing everything I can to fight against the Labour Government’s plans to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment, which sadly will see many pensioners across Sevenoaks and Swanley lose up to £300 of energy bills support this winter.
There was a vote in the House of Commons last week on the proposals, which I voted against; however, the Government won the vote meaning it looks like it’s going ahead.
I will of course continue to do all I can to object, but I want to make sure that locally we’re trying to get as many people as possible help and support. So, if you or someone you know is going to be impacted by the Winter Fuel Payment cut, the below list outlines the help available locally.
If you haven’t already, please do check whether you are eligible for Pension Credit. at: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility
If you are unable to claim, I recommend contacting the excellent HERO Team at Sevenoaks District Council. They offer a personalised service that can assist with welfare benefits, housing, and more. They can be reached on [email protected] or call 01732 227000 (ask for the HERO service)
And finally, the Citizens Advice Bureau is a fantastic resource, offering free, impartial guidance on a range of issues like money, debt, benefits, utilities, and housing. They can help explore any additional support you might be eligible for. You can call them on 0808 278 7810 or visit their website at citizensadvicenwk.org.uk.
Last week I also had a call with Mairead McCormick, the Chief Executive of Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) to discuss the latest at Sevenoaks Hospital, following the decision to move the 19-bed inpatient rehabilitation ward due to fire safety concerns.
I know you (and I) were all very worried about the possibility of other services being lost/ moved however, I was reassured by Mairead that all other services outside of the inpatient beds will continue. They will remain in their current location, before moving across the road to the other buildings on the Sevenoaks site following refurbishment. This is incredibly important news for our community, and I know will come as a huge relief to many of you who like me use and love the services provided. I will monitor progress and make sure they are held to this pledge, if you encounter any problems please do let me know.
There are also some very early-stage plans to look at extending the services available in Sevenoaks. I will pass on more information when we have it, as well as details on how you can get involved. I stressed throughout the call how much our community values the services provided by Sevenoaks Hospital and the importance of it to everyone who lives here.
And finally, it was hugely disappointing to hear last week that the date for rolling out contactless ticketing at stations including Sevenoaks, Dunton Green, Bat & Ball, Shoreham, Eynsford and Otford, has been postponed and will not commence on 22 September. As some of you may have seen reported in the news, TfL, who are providing the technology for Contactless, has been subject to a cyberattack, and the postponement is due to the security measures being taken in response. They are working with Department for Transport and the Rail Delivery Group to reschedule, and I will be writing to TfL and the Minister to ensure we get the rescheduled date as soon as possible. I know this will be deeply frustrating for many of us that travel on the trains to and from London, but hopefully we can get a new date soon. I will update you as soon as I hear more.
