Cold weather payments 'Russian roulette'
SHEFFIELD council leader Paul Scriven has written to the Prime Minister calling for an end to a system that sees parts of Sheffield being 'frozen out' under the Government's cold weather payments system.
The payments of 25 are triggered when the average temperature falls below zero degrees for seven consecutive days.
However, the Government uses three separate weather stations, in Nottingham, Bingley and Linton-on-Ouse, to measure temperatures for different parts of Sheffield.
This has led to some parts of Sheffield receiving a cold weather payment while others have received nothing.
Coun Scriven is urging a fairer system by using the weather station at Weston Park to cover the whole of Sheffield.
He said: "At a time when everyone is feeling the pinch and we are seeing energy bills spiral out of control, ensuring that families receive all the support possible is vital." He has written to Gordon Brown to try to end a system which he says uses a 'Russian roulette' approach
"It cannot be fair that some parts of Sheffield have received payments whereas low income families who live in the wrong post code are frozen out."
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
