Cold weather forecasts 'should not panic aged'

GUERNSEY is well prepared for a harsh winter. The Met Office predicts a colder and drier winter than normal for the southern regions of England, as well as for Guernsey.

But support services are warning against alarmism.

Age Concern secretary Richard Barneby said that the actual predictions were a far cry from the scaremongering in the national press.

The Met Office said that there was a two-thirds probability that temperatures would be lower than average over the winter months.

'If there is a cold snap, the usual advice applies - eat hot food, drink hot drinks, only heat one room and if you are in trouble please phone someone who can help,' said Mr Barneby.

He also said it was a case of good neighbourliness and that the support system from the Social Security Department, the procureurs and Age Concern was good.

'Winter is coming and many are facing higher charges for coal, fuel and heating their homes,' said Roy Trustum, chairman of the OAP Association.

He said the prospect of higher heating costs came at a time when many were already worried about the implications of the black hole tax proposals on pensioners.

'We tell our members that if they are in any trouble they should go to Social Security. Some of them don't want to because they see it as charity but in fact they have worked hard all their lives so they are entitled to it.'

The Guernsey Information Exchange is in the process of compiling a special booklet in response to the possibility of colder than usual weather.

It contains information and instructions on how to keep warm during a cold spell and is aimed at the less mobile and elderly. It is expected to be published next week.

Those on supplementary benefit receive a £17-a-week fuel allowance from the end of this month to the end of April.

A spokesman for the Social Security Department said that if there was a severe spell of weather, a one-off payment could be arranged very quickly to cover heating costs.

A Public Services Department spokesman said that it had set procedures to keep roads open in extreme weather.