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'More accurate assessment' for cold weather payments
PENSIONERS in Sheffield will finally get a fair deal on cold weather payments, after the Government announced plans to use a local weather station to calculate the grants.
Sheffield Council and local MPs have been in a long battle to change the system, which generates payments of 25 for pensioners and those on benefits when the temperature falls below zero for seven days in a row.
Campaigners have criticised the existing system, which uses three remote weather stations - in Nottingham, Bingley and Linton-on-Ouse - to calculate temperatures for different Sheffield postcodes.
The set-up means some parts of the city receive payments while others got nothing, even if the city is suffering a cold snap.
The council had campaigned for Weston Park weather station to be used to calculate temperatures for the whole city.
But it was only when Sheffield MPs asked the Government to look at meteorological evidence compiled by University of Sheffield experts that a review was ordered.
Now, Junior Work and Pensions Minister Helen Goodman has announced Weston Park will be used to calculate weather in the city as a whole from this winter, providing a "more accurate assessment".
Sheffield Council leader, Paul Scriven, said: "I'm glad the Government have finally recognised that measuring the temperature for Sheffield from Nottingham, Bingley and Linton-on-Ouse isn't appropriate."
Brightside MP David Blunkett said: "The topography and ranging climate in Sheffield is so very different to the stations to the north and east that thousands of people were losing out on the payments which would help them to meet their bills. This will now be recognised, and I'm very pleased."
Attercliffe MP Clive Betts added: "After much lobbying, the Government has seen sense on this issue and I am extremely glad that many of my constituents will benefit from this new system."
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
