So The Chancellor of the Exchequer (no Darling to us, just like the previous one, we all remember you Gordon) is considering (considering only mind you) as I write this to raise the tax free allowance for pensioners by £2000, and thereby saving us up to £400 a year. Now what a sop that is. Most of us are in the 20% bracket (not the 40% band, much higher pension people, like him) so that means a maximum of £200. Less than £4 a week, and absolutley nothing if you don't pay tax. As this is INCOME TAX that will mean 12 months before Inland Revenue computers will get re-programmed, won’t it? So how much are our Council Tax bills going up again, Local & County? Of course it really isn’t needed, because ‘pensioners’ are still getting 10% interest on their savings! Not many people know that, but the Government does, because this is what it DIS-ALLOWS when counting up your savings for assessing any additional OAP benefits that you might be applying for.
How about an instant bit of help by abolishing tax charges on our hard earned savings?The Building Societies could do that at a stroke. If they stick mortgages up instantly it shows that they can move quickly, so it only needs a keystroke to make it ‘zero’ tax, doesn’t it! This of course is just too easy and wouldn’t cost the Government a penny extra in administration costs!
As I write this, there is snow on the ground. The authorities have gritted somewhere (not a lot) and after two days they are worried that they are going to run out! Well our money is certainly not being spent on salt is it?
So those damned gas guns (bird scarers) have been going off now for nearly 3 months. At least this latest version is random and fires in a variable direction, but it still interrupts my afternoon snooze. Those of you lucky enough to be in work only hear it on your days off, although their code of conduct for ‘use of’ says Avoid Sundays!
Have you seen the drawing of the lovely (proposed) high metal bridge over the canal in the Town Clerks office? One boater has, and has written an article to me, but David has put it on page 8 along with Alan’s article.
And on my usual theme:
One last thing, if you see any problems with Street Lighting, Gritting &
Snow Clearance, Fly Tipping etc over the coming months please phone Streetcare
in Newbury on 01635 519080, or e-mail streetcare@westberks.gov.uk if you don’t,
no one else will.
Please contact me through David’s e-mail,
davidhpiper111@btinternet.com
Or to CHAIN Office…..address on outside back page and title your words/thoughts
as……... Old Codger column please ……. Bye Bye &
keep safe.