CONSERVATIVE councillors and a former MP have told of the “hard choices” people in Brierley Hill affected by the loss of the Winter Fuel Payment are having to make after holding a support session in the town’s market.

Brierley Hill and Wordsley South councillors Wayne Little and Adam Davies, and former Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb OBE met with concerned residents in Brierley Hill Market last Saturday as they collected signatures calling for a U-turn on the axing of the payment.

The trio arranged a support session to help shoppers in Brierley Hill add their voice to a campaign against the scrapping of the vital payment to help pensioners through the winter months as the October 30 budget approaches.

Former Tory MP Suzanne said she would be holding more support sessions for residents in the run up to next week’s budget.

She said: “The response to our Winter Fuel Payment support session was overwhelming we had pensioners queuing to sign the petition.

“All this talk of Pension Credit being the alternative is somewhat of a red herring, as the pensioners we have spoken to were not eligible as their income was just above the £11,500 eligibility threshold.

“It is somewhat naïve of any politician to think that all our pensioners are Richard Branson or spend their allowance in Majestic, the response to the petition shows they clearly do need it and are very concerned should this winter be a cold one as to whether they choose between heating or eating.”

Cllr Davies said: "It was incredibly sad to hear how fearful many pensioners are going into this winter worrying that they won't get the same support they had in previous years.

"Many told us how they have worked hard all their lives and are just over the Pension Credit threshold so don't qualify for Pension Credit or any other support to help them keep warm this winter.

"The new government has clearly got this totally wrong, and it's heart-breaking to think how many local pensioners will now suffer unless the government U-turns on their plan.

"But, there is still time for the Chancellor to change her plans, listen to the millions of concerned voices, and not snatch this vital support away from struggling pensioners."

Cllr Little added: “It’s been terrible listening to the real-life stories that people have been telling us. The hard choices people are having to make because of the indiscriminate Labour policy of cuts, that is affecting thousands of our elderly pensioners.

“We’ve heard so many stories of people who saved extra during their working lives, to enhance their state pensions and make life easier in their later years.

"Many, only earning around an extra £30 a week, meaning they’re now losing their winter fuel allowances."

Stourbridge Labour MP Cat Eccles has previously said the Government’s decision to axe the payment has “not been taken lightly” although she has confirmed she does agree with the end of the “universalism” of the benefit and that funds and support should be “directed to the pensioners who are most in need”.

She said she too has held drop-in sessions for pensioners or their relatives to find out how they might be able to access support that makes up for the loss of the payment.

In her first column for the Stourbridge News last month, she said she has also been working with councillors and community stakeholders to signpost pensioners towards help to ensure those just above the threshold to receive the allowance “will not have to make the choice between food or warmth this coming winter”.