The cost of living crisis continues to get worse with inflation and the cost of energy is at record highs. Interest rates and mortgage payments have increased. Leading to many residents in Bedford Borough worrying about how they will pay for the basics.

Bedford Borough Council, with the leadership of Mayor Dave Hodgson, has been looking at ways they can help residents, either indirectly or directly, during this cost of living crisis.

“We want to make sure that through the council, and working with other organisations throughout our communities, we do whatever we can to support people during this challenging time.”

Some of the actions to help residents include :

• Freezing the cost of council services (car park charges, marriage and registrations, burials and cremations and many more fees and charges frozen for 2023)
• Funding an energy adviser at Citizens Advice Bedford – so residents can get help with applying for grants to pay their gas and electricity bills
• Funding for Bedford Food Bank so more residents can access this service
• Developing a warm spaces network in Bedford Borough
• Providing “free school meals” vouchers during the xmas holidays
• Full council tax support for those households on the lowest of incomes – unlike Central Beds, Luton and Northamptonshire
• Delivering new schemes to fund energy efficiency in the most poorly insulated homes in Bedford Borough via the Sustainable Warmth Grant Scheme and Public Health Scheme.

Liberal Democrats will always look after and help communities through crisis events, aiming and directing support to those on the lowest incomes and providing safe spaces for everyone to use to reduce household energy bill usage.

More details regarding cost of living help in Bedford Borough can be found here.

If you have any comments please do let me know on FB/Twitter or dean@croftsy.com

Cllr Dean Crofts

Kingsbrook Ward – Bedford Borough

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