MP blasts charge plan for alarms
Shotts MP Neil Gray has condemned the introduction of community alarm charges across North Lanarkshire.
Over three years ago, Mr Gray spoke out against the introduction of a £5 per week charge for the potentially lifesaving system.
On that occasion, North Lanarkshire Council reversed the move.
Now, users of the system must pay £3.40 per week or have it removed, putting elderly and vulnerable folk at risk across the region.
Until now North Lanarkshire was one of only two local authorities in the country still to provide the service for free.
The community alarm service assists vulnerable people and those over the age of 75 who need extra support to stay in their own homes.
It affords them with the security that they can call for assistance in an emergency, such as a fall or an illness, at any time of the day or night.
The charge, was agreed by the council as part of its budget for 2020/21.
Neil Gray said: “I really fail to understand the council coming back to this sociallyregressive policy.
“Many elderly people in my constituency, and across the whole area, are struggling to pay bills as it is and they now face having to do without what is quite literally a lifeline. This charge, on top of the loss of the over-75 free TV licence, will see many pensioners having to decide against safety or a link to the outside world.
“I just wonder if it will realise as much income as they imagined as I have had constituents saying they are going to have it removed, even if that puts their safety at risk. I will continue to work with local SNP councillors to fight this and try to get it overturned yet again.”
Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire (HSCNL) administers the service and insist the long-term future has been safeguarded by the introduction of the charge.
Chief officer Ross McGuffie said: “Demand for this service will only become greater due to an ageing population and we must be in a position to meet this demand and protect the service.”