Shock £5k bill for pensioners
Friday 27th November 2009, 11:30AM GMT.
Shocked Wolverhampton pensioners have been told they must pay £5,000-a-head to continue using a driveway from their garages that has been in service for over 60 years.
Bombshell letters revealing the shock demand from Wolverhampton City Council have arrived on doormats of homes in Bradley.
They arrived weeks after the same local authority demanded, and accepted, the £10 annual payment for use of the driveway for next year from one of those targeted, Mr Brian Rowley, 59. He has lived in Bradley Lane since he was one year old. “It is a complete mess,” he said.
The problem has arisen as the council finalises plans for land it owns that is crossed by a section of the drive.
Drivers who do not pay could face having no access for their vehicles.
Among them is Mr Bert Portman, 86, a resident in the road for 62 years with sister Jean, 72, faces the threat of never been able to move the vintage 1937 Ford V8 Pilot he has lovingly looked after for decades.
Miss Portman said: “He does not want to get rid of it because it has so many happy memories for him but he will have to do so if the council go ahead with this because there is no way we can afford £5,000.”
Mr Michael Painter, aged 65, whose wife Maureen, 68, has used the unmade driveway since moving into their Bradley Lane house with her parents 62 years ago, said: “This is disgraceful. At least Dick Turpin wore a mask.”
Two of the seven residents in Bradley Lane who use the driveway have been paying the local authority £10-a-year since the 1990s but the others were not asked to pay.
All thought the fact they had been allowed to use it for over 20 years without objection gave them the legal right to continue without charge but local authority lawyers do not agree.
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At this rate we’ll soon have the money to develop the railway station…Don’t forget who to vote for when the election comes round.
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ahhh…got to be a nu-Labour fault!
Its a bit strange asking them to pay £5k though….the council should have a rethink and ask the Labour prats who got Wolverhampton council into the mess it is in to cough up!
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its got nothing to do with Labour – its the tories who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing
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Well someone voted in people to represent these residents views, so why are those representatives not earning their money?
The problem with this country is that we treat our relationship with our elected councillors with the same attitude as we do making out our will; it’s something we do at all costs, remember you pay for their lifestyle, make them earn their money.
Only 3 in every resident bothers to vote in this country, this is the result.
Jim of Bearwood.
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You the people of Wolverhampton voted them into power. Now you pay for it. Just as everyone will pay for it when they put the Tory party in at the general election. It’s nothing to do with nu labour Rob. It’s just Tory party policy to attack the poor and elderly. Take a look at meals on wheels.
Why dont he big councillors cut back their big expense sheets and pool the money to help these folks? Like Jim says if your not happy just Vote them out. If most of you can get off your lazy butts to bother to vote!!
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TYPICAL OF WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL ALL THEY WANT IS MONEY TO PAY THE BLOODY COUNTCILLORS THEY HAVE BEEN USEING THE DRIVE FOR 60YRS
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Moan Moan Moan thats all some people do.
They have been scrounging this freebie for years and now have the audacity to complain now the council sees sense.
If they dont like it tough, move house!
Well done to the council for sticking to their guns and raising much need revenue
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TORQUAY MAN I am behind you a 100% your comment “THEY HAVE BEEN SCROUNGING THIS FREEBIE FOR YEARS” why should they get FREEBIE’S??????
Too many people want something for nothing; now ask Wolverhampton Councillors how many Freeloaders are getting FREE retirement pensions at the Council Taxpayer’s expense????? See the following.
“TAXPAYERS TOP UP COUNCILLORS’ PENSIONS”
“Taxpayers are paying into pensions for councillors across the region, the Express & Star can reveal.
Elected politicians at town halls are taking advantage of a special pension scheme to give them handouts after they retire.
The pensions, which were set up by the Government and started in 2003, are funded by taxpayers and are handed out on top of any pensions they might have for full-time jobs.
Wolverhampton City Council has 14 councillors signed up”!!!!!!!!!
“The Taxpayers Alliance has criticised the councillors as “careerists” who are trying to retire with public sector pensions from roles that are essentially voluntary”
So while I am with you TORQUAY MAN, I also believe in the saying “people who live in glass houses not throwing stones” But could this be the reason they want the money? To pay for their own FREE Pensions!!!!!!!!
TORQUAY MAN, instead of them moving house how about Wolverhampton Council putting its own house in order first and stop this damned hypocrisy.
Jim of Bearwood
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