Energy bills crisis needs solving now
THE Government is to give every household in the UK £400 to help with the cost of living, and rising prices of gas and electricity in particular.
This is only a short-term measure to help with this year’s price increases, and we are told that we haven’t seen anything yet, and there are much higher price increases to come.
While this help from the Government is very welcome, it is only like sticking a plaster on the wound and it does nothing to cure the problem.
Presumably next year, and perhaps the following years, we will receive more handouts from the Government, costing the Government even more.
If you look online, there were 28.3 million households in the UK in June this year, so multiply this by the £400 each will receive and it means it will cost the Government £11.3 billion for this year alone.
Again, online, there are 37 energy companies, whose main purpose is to make a profit and will be the main recipients of all this Government money, as well as being encouraged to increase their prices even more in future knowing that their customers are receiving help.
Would this huge sum not be better spent on a permanent solution to the problem at source?
It could be calculated how much extra the energy companies are having to pay for the gas and electricity and this amount given to help them meet the cost, ensuring at the same time that the costs to their customers are reasonable and no excessive profits are being made by the company.
There would also be big savings in administering this scheme, as it would be easier to make payments to 37 energy companies than it would be to the 28.3 million households.
This does nothing to address the big rises in petrol and diesel fuel that cause increased prices of every essential item that we need – food, clothing and transport to get to work.
The same could be done for the big oil companies that supply our filling stations, making it easier for the transport companies who supply our essentials, and keep prices down to us, the consumers.
Overall, this might be a cheaper solution than just giving each household extra money each year.
Patrick Collins By email
details for making direct monetary donations.
Badham Pharmacy has a special collection point to tackle hygiene poverty in the UK.
Required donations include toiletries, female sanitary products, baby wipes, nappies and laundry products.
The Cleeve Common Trust News. The Memorial Programme has been running for several years now and allows local residents to donate in memory of a loved one that will support the conservation of Cleeve Common.
A plaque is then placed on the Memorial Wall in their honour. On the existing Memorial Wall around the lone beech tree, the upper two faces are full but the lowest tiers of the long sides are vertical and can be used for narrower plaques.
We are also building a second Wall near the iconic ‘Three Sisters’ or ‘Twin’ beech trees. This will need time to settle before we fit the cut lengths of stone that carry the plaques, but we hope to be able to accept plaques by the end of the year.
For more information or to apply for a plaque, please see our website. Future events run by the trust: Friday, August 26 – Stream Dipping and Raft Racing.
For information on events and how to support the trust, contact Parish Office, Church Road, Bishop’s Cleeve, 07471 687 877 – Ranger: 07756 828 458.
Urban Saints has restarted, 6pm-7pm in St Michael’s Centre every week during term-time. Urban Saints is a group for ages 8 to 11, lots of fun and games whilst learning about Jesus.
For more information about all church activities, contact Church Office, St Michael’s Centre, School Road, Bishop’s Cleeve, Cheltenham, GL52 8BA, telephone number 01242 673612 or online at the following addresses:
www.facebook.com/groups/ stmichaelsbishopscleeve/ www.stmichaelsbishopscleeve.co.uk www.achurchnearyou.com/ church/14402/
Biblewatch www.facebook.com/ groups/stmichaelbishopscleeve/ Children’s
Ministry cafministry.stmichael@ gmail.com
Gotherington, Woolstone and Oxenton WI hosts monthly meetings on Wednesdays, in Gotherington Village Hall at 7.30pm.
August 24 – Woodchester Park, talk by Rob Bryant.
September 28 – A Love Affair with Italian Cuisine by Pamela Holland.
October 26 – Just Gems with Helen Plumb.
November 23 – Craft Demonstration and Annual Meeting.
New members welcome. For more details, contact 01242 317276.
The Bishop’s Cleeve WI hosts meetings in the Tithe Barn on the third Tuesday of each month, 7.15pm9pm.
August 16 – no meeting. September 20 – Stroud’s Women’s refuge. October 18 – Hilarious hats. November 15 – AGM, Auction and competition results.
December 20 – 93rd Birthday and Christmas party.
For more information about meetings, contact www. bishopscleevewi.org.uk or 01242 676647.
Your guide to everything that’s going on in your area
WOODMANCOTE
Woodmancote WI hosts meetings at Woodmancote Village Hall on Thursdays at 7.30 pm. August – TBC. September 15 – Natural Willow Crafts. October 20 – The Wonderful World of Latin America.
November 17 – Annual Meeting, our 60th birthday.
December 15 – The Spirit of Christmas.
Woodmancote Probus Club hosts meetings on Tuesdays at Woodmancote New Village Hall.
Meetings start at 9.30am, followed by the talk at 10.30am. For more information, contact 01242 702573.
For information about Woodmancote Cricket Club, contact mikejrobinson55@gmail.com or 07946 378244.
For information about Woodmancote Cricket Club junior team, contact 07948094905, email woodmancotecricketclub@outlook.com
Ann Lewis