County 'would be hard hit' by fuel payment cuts

Conservative Gwilym Butler has called for the planned winter fuel payment changes to be scrapped

The government's restriction on winter fuel payments will hit Shropshire harder than most other counties, local Conservatives have claimed.

They have pointed to Shropshire's relatively high proportion of pensioners and higher-than-average heating costs in the more rural areas.

A motion put forward by Gwilym Butler, the councillor responsible for finance on the Conservative-led council, has called on the government to reverse its decision.

Failing that, it said extra support should be given to those most in need.

'More fuel poverty'

The government has said that in future the payments would only be made to those getting pension credit or other means-tested help.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the cut was not a step she wanted to take, but that it was one of the "difficult decisions" needed to fix the economy.

Mr Butler said just more than 25% of residents in the county were over the age of 65, higher than the national average of 20.7%.

His motion, supported by the Conservative group which runs the local authority, said: "We already have many pensioners in fuel poverty and the result of this withdrawal will result with many more."

This will "create further pressures on the local NHS and social care," he said.

The Liberal Democrat group on the council has put forward an alternative motion, calling for a delay in the winter fuel payment changes.

It said an impact assessment needed to be carried out.

Andy Boddington, the Lib Dem councillor who put the motion forward, said an estimated 17% of households in Shropshire are in fuel poverty.

He said keeping warm over the winter "can significantly reduce illness through colds and flu" and reduce the pressure on the NHS.