Teignbridge Matters

Read Anne Marie’s views in her weekly column; an advertisement sponsored by Conservative supporters.

Summer Fun

The weather may not be with us – but we can still enjoy the summer. Last weekend I was in Shaldon for the start of Teignmouth Regatta, judging the children’s sand castle squares and chalk board picture drawings. They were utterly delightful. And of course the Parade of Decorated Boats in the afternoon was huge fun. I was invited to join the crew of Radio Caroline – with a bit of drama when “Harold Wilson” tried to board us to shut us down - we won first prize in the humour category!

Pension, what pension?

Living to be 90 will soon be the norm, not the exception. With an average retirement age of 65, that is a long time to fund living costs. And many of you have been telling me just how frightening it can be. The state pension must be raised and come more into line with earnings. The “extra sums” available are hard to claim– and some feel embarrassed at claiming them. As the Devon Pensioner’s Forum told me when we met recently, Council tax at nearly £30 a week for a band D property is for many a huge
chunk of what pensioners have to spend – it is disproportionately large, and that has to change.

And for those who have been able to save to supplement their pension – those savings are not going very far. Interest rates are pitifully low and dividends from any investments are negligible. Something has to
be done. Freezing council tax, abolishing income tax on savings for all basic rate taxpayers – and raising the income tax threshold for pensioners would all make a difference - a difference I would like to see
made.

Getting back to work

Losing your job is devastating. It’s not just the money and the security that comes from knowing you can pay the bills – it’s about your feeling of self worth. I remember when I was made redundant as part of a company
reorganisation in 2002, how I felt – stunned. Those were the good years and I found another job very quickly – but it’s not like that today – and the help from the government to find that job is simply not there.

As a number of you have told me, Job Centre Plus will register you and point you in the direction of help and advice – but the wait can be long and the advice more theoretical than hands on. The money for training schemes and new qualifications is hard to access and there is no help to set up your own business unless you have been out of work for over a year! That is much too late – by then any get up and go…probably got up and went! What a waste of a year for people who want to try to support
themselves.

The most vulnerable are often those at 50 plus who are out of work for the first time. They are approaching retirement and in some cases have not applied for a job for over 30 years – and how to do that has changed beyond all recognition. As I have said to many of you when you have asked
for my help, I would thoroughly recommend the Newton Abbot Job Club – there is a free drop in service every Thursday in the Pearl Assurance Building. Daren and Sue who run it are brilliant!