Elderly residents of a small South Ayrshire Village who haven’t been able to claim a free TV licence are being given a helping hand by the area’s community council.
Earlier this year Barr Community Council announced they would be going directly to residents to find out how they wanted windfarm money to be spent.
Grants for heating over the winter was the most popular option when the community council undertook the survey, followed by free TV licences for over 75s.
Barr Community Council chair Tom Walker said that the funding has been secured to cover the cost of a TV licence for residents within the parish of Barr who are aged 75 or over.
While residents aged 75 or over can get a free licence if they receive pension credit, those who don’t face a bill of £169.50, at a time when other costs remain high.
The support is also available immediately, with application forms available on the village website at www.barrvillage.co.uk or the village shop, with payment to be made by cheque or direct bank transfer.
The community council thanked partners Tralorg Benefits Ltd for their work to help them provide support.
Mr Walker said: “We are delighted to offer this support to our senior residents in Barr.
“We anticipate that at least 20 people within the parish who are aged 75 or over will benefit from having their TV licence covered.
“The £169.50 annual cost can be a significant expense alongside the cost of energy over winter so we are pleased to help ease that burden.”
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