Cold Weather Payments - Local MP seeks new links to Cassley weather station

12.00.00am GMT Mon 1st Feb 2010

Local MP John Thurso is seeking to have additional areas of the Far North linked to the Cassley weather station for the purpose of triggering cold weather payments in recognition of the more extreme winter weather condition which they experience.

John Thurso said:

"While the winter fuel payment provides welcome relief for those over pension age in meeting large winter heating bills, there are many others on fixed incomes who for a variety of reasons - disability, incapacity or families with young children - find themselves confined to the home and incur high heating costs over the winter months.

"In recent weeks we have faced particularly extreme conditions with temperatures in some areas remaining below freezing for several weeks. Temperatures recorded at Wick Airport weather station have not been representative of those experienced in communities such as Strathy, only a few miles inland, or along the East Coast and I am calling on both the Met Office and the Department for Work and Pensions to review the linkage as a priority."