Devon Pensioners Action Forum

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Devon Pensioners’ Action Forum

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DPAF is your local organisation committed to making a real difference.

Membership Form available Here

Points of View - Members Share Their Experiences Here

Hands off Our Money - View Letter Here

Article from The Times 18/06/11 Here

Voices of Reason

Copied below are two recent emails sent to me in response to Albert Venison and Colin Hadley’s concerted and widely distributed attacks on me and the current Executive Committee.

“Well your email certainly will teach me not jump too quickly in the future. I feel from what I read from Albert V he was throwing his toys out of the pram in an effort to control you. I hope all members didn't get his e-mail as they may very well jump to the wrong conclusion as I was heading for.

Warm wishes and thank you.”…..and

“Thank you very much for your reply.

I am in agreement with it's contents and look forward to reading the newsletter.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply almost immediately.

Best wishes”

As Acting Chairman, and responding on behalf of the Executive Committee, we couldn’t agree more with these members sentiments.

Want to add a comment? Contact us here

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Annual General Meeting-2012

Saturday, 19th May - 10am

Civil Service Sports Association

Foxhayes - Exwick Road - Exeter - EX4 2BQ

Strictly Paid Up Members Only

Refreshments and Ample Free Parking Available

The Executive Committee Have Agreed That, Due To The

Extensive Agenda, There will Insufficient Time For A Guest Speaker.

COME AND SUPPORT YOUR ELECTED

OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

For More Details Contact Bob Turner 01392 670307 or

Email: admin@dpaf.co.uk

Travel Information

DPAF AGM 2012 – 10m Saturday, 19th May, at Civil Service Sports Association – Foxhayes – Exwick Road – Exeter – EX4 2BQ

Driving West to East on the A30

1. At exit ‘Alphington Junction’, take slip road left for A377 toward Exeter.

2. Just past the first set of traffic lights turn left onto Buddle Lane - keep driving straight on.

3. Road name changes to Exwick Road – keep driving straight on.

4. After a further half mile you will see on your right ‘The Thatched House’ pub. Turn right at the traffic lights into Foxhayes, and the venue is a few yards along on the right hand side.

Driving East to West on the A30

5. At exit 31, take slip road left for A30 towards Okehampton.

6. At exit ‘Alphington Junction’, take slip road left

7. At roundabout, take 3rd exit onto A377 towards Exeter City Centre.

8. Follow directions at 2-4 above.

Driving on M5, heading South

At exit 31, take slip road left for A30 toward Okehampton. Follow signs to A30.

Follow directions 1-4 above

Driving North on A38 or A380

From the bottom of Telegraph Hill (You will see Petrol Station on the far right hand side of the carriageway). Drive on for approximately 2 miles and take dedicated slip road left for A30 West toward Exeter.

At exit ‘Alphington Junction’, take slip road left.

Follow directions 7 and 2-4 above

Driving into Exeter from North Devon via A377 (Crediton) or A396 (Tiverton)

At Junction of A377 and A396 (Cowley Bridge Roundabout) continue along the A377 (Cowley Bridge Road) towards the City for approximately a mile. You will pass newly constructed student accommodation and Esso University Garage on the right hand side. Continue on for about 2-300 yards to the next main junction on the right. Do not continue straight on, this takes you to the City Centre. Turn right, following the A377 towards St. Davids Railway Station and Exe Bridges. After about 100 yards turn right (car park on right) and cross the level crossing and River Exe. Drive to the junction at the end and turn left into Exwick Road. Drive on to the second set of traffic lights, the Thatched House pub will be to your left. Turn left here into Foxhayes. The venue is a few yards down on the right hand side.

By Bus from Exeter City Centre High Street

Bus routes F1 and F2.

Bus travels from High Street to Exwick via Fore Street, Cowick Street, Buddle Lane and Exwick Road. Alight at the Thatched House Pub and cross the road to Foxhayes. Buses run approximately every 10 minutes.

By Train (and bus)

Alight at St. Thomas’s Station and catch the F1 or F2 bus from the adjacent bus stop to The Thatched House.

_______________________________________________________

Important Announcement

Tom and Margaret Williams have resigned their positions as Chairman and Secretary of Devon Pensioners’ Action Forum, effective from the 5th February, 2012.

A further statement will be issued in due course. A new Secretary and Membership Secretary have joined the Committee.

Meanwhile, please direct all communications to -

Bob Turner

77 Bonhay Road

St Davids

Exeter

EX4 4BL

Tel: 01392 - 670307

Email : admin@dpaf.co.uk

Be reassured that the fight for a better deal for pensioners continues.

Letter from The Acting Chairman - Published in the Media This Week

Many Pensioners Will Lose Financially.

AS the Acting Chairman of Devon Pensioners Action Forum, representing hundreds of pensioners across Devon, I would like to comment on the recent rise in state pensions and the so called granny tax. This is yet another cash-grabbing exercise by central government to try to bail themselves out of the consequences of their own and previous governments' fiscal failures.

This Governments claim that pensioners will be better off as a result of the five-plus per cent increase in state pensions is not entirely true. While some may be slightly better off, it is becoming increasingly clear that there will be many who are not. Some pensioners will in fact lose money as a consequence of this pathetic pension rise and introduction of the granny tax will only add to their problems.

Some of our members have already contacted us complaining that some, or even all, of the increase is eroded by the impact that the rise has on other benefits they may be receiving. The true effect for some pensioners is an overall reduction to their total income.

Mervyn Kohler of AgeUK commented that the change was, "Relatively small beer in the big picture of things". This is nonsense and irresponsible and he does his organisation and, more importantly those he is supposedly representing, no favours by issuing such a ridiculous statement. Perhaps we can put him right on a few facts of life relating to what it is like being a pensioner in 21st-century UK and trying to survive on some of the lowest pensions in Europe and diminishing incomes from savings, if one is fortunate enough to have any, in the face of escalating costs of utilities, food and other essential items.

The National Insurance Fund surplus stands at about £40Billion and Devon Pensioners' Action Forum states in no uncertain terms that this money should be immediately ring-fenced for its original purpose of paying pensions and benefits. For the past decade at least, successive governments have been 'borrowing', although I prefer the term 'plundering', this surplus for other items of public expenditure.

There is no excuse for such a paltry increase in pensions when there is such a healthy surplus of National Insurance funds that pensioners have already contributed towards for most of their working life on the basis that they would be adequately provided for in their retirement.

While many are prepared to criticise pensioners and write them off as a drain on resources, it perhaps should be remembered that much of the infrastructure that exists in the UK today such as road, rail, education and the NHS etc was created by the hard work and taxes that pensioners have already contributed.

Bob Turner

Acting Chairman -

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View the Acting Chairman’s recent letter to Albert Venison here

It is with no little regret that it became necessary to respond to Albert Venison and Colin Hadley’s unsubstantiated and widely distributed attacks on the current Executive Committee. The letter outlines only some of the facts surrounding events that the current committee have had to deal with over the past 12-15 months. No longer was I prepared to sit back and do nothing whilst the hard work of this Executive Committee is constantly criticised by those that have contributed little or nothing since their departure.

The current Executive Committee have already received considerable support from many members and I would like to take this opportunity to thank those that have already contacted us with their views. If you would like to offer your support, comment or opinion please contact us here.