MP Ashley Fox with members of the Bridgwater Senior Citizens Forum

MP tackles issues from potholes to pensions during Bridgwater group visit

Paul JonesJune 18, 20250 Comment0

EVERYTHING – from potholes to pensions – was on the agenda when a Somerset MP visited a senior citizens’ group.

Ashley Fox (Conservative, Bridgwater) met with members of the Bridgwater Senior Citizens Forum at the Baptist Church Hall recently for a wide-ranging discussion about issues affecting older people in the town.

Topics included pensions, potholes, ongoing roadworks, and the future of adult social care in Somerset, he said, with residents raising concerns over the rising cost of living and the strain it’s placing on those reliant on a state pension.

Mr Fox highlighted the need for fairer tax policy for pensioners, having raised the issue at Westminster last month, when he said: “Freezing the basic allowance at £12,570 most heavily impacts pensioners with limited income, who are increasingly paying income tax on small occupational pensions.”

He told the Bridgwater group he would continue to press the Government “on the importance of protecting older people from being disproportionately affected by rising costs”.

Roadworks in Bridgwater – which has seen a raft of road closures during work on the Celebration Mile and elsewhere – were also raised, he said, with concerns over how it affects businesses and how people find out about them.

“The disruption is not just inconvenient, it’s damaging livelihoods,” Mr Fox said. “I’ve taken that message to the council and to Westminster.”

After the meeting, the MP added: “It was a real pleasure to speak with members of the forum. These are issues rooted in people’s everyday lives – how they get around, how they manage on a fixed income, how they access care. I will continue to represent their views as the local MP.”