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Life Line charge 'fundamentally wrong' say Greens

7th September 2007

For immediate release

Bristol's Green Party is telling the city council how wrong it would be to charge ^[note1] vulnerable people for the essential 'Life Line' service.

Responding to a consultation ^[note2] launched by the council, the Greens make it clear that the proposals are 'wrong in principle and wrong in practice'

Spokesman Cllr. Charlie Bolton, who represents the Southville ward, commented:

"This is really the last place the council should be looking to save money. The service is what it says on the tin - a Life Line. A charge could easily put off some of the people who need it and benefit from it."

"I really don't know what the Labour group is thinking about when it comes up with uncaring suggestions like this. They're trying to spin it as a 'fair charge'. It seems to me that the present system is much fairer, those unfortunate enough to need it get the service and we all help to meet the cost, the same principle as underpins the national Health Service."

-ENDS-

Notes

1. Those who can afford it will be charged £3.50 a week plus, for new users, a £25 installation fee. There are more details available in the council's own press release.
2. A consultation, to close on October 5th, is taking place before any formal decision is made.
3. The Green Party case is explained here on our 'hot topic' pages

Contacts

Cllr. Charlie Bolton, Tel. 0117 966 1639
Peter Goodwin (Green Party Press Officer), Tel. 01275 543280