Residents divided over impact of cuts

Photo: Marcus Chippindale

Beryl Waalluy

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Chancellor George Osborne wielded the spending axe in the House of Commons on Wednesday (20 October 2010) afternoon, announcing the UK’s biggest round of cuts for decades.

The cuts mean around 490,000 public sector jobs could be lost, welfare budgets will be slashed by a further £7billion, departmental budgets will be reduced by an average of 19% over four years and the retirement age will rise to 66 by 2020.

Rochdale Online reporter Marcus Chippindale spoke to residents in Castleton today (Friday 22 October) to find out what they think about the cuts.

36-year-old mother of one Elaine Newton believes that the cuts are unfair and will affect the wrong people.

She said: “They should be targeting people who have more money and not those who don’t.

“People rely on them for support and it doesn’t look like we are going to get it any more.”

Peter Harper, 47, was annoyed by the announcements and said that the government should be focusing on trying to find new ways of raising money.

“My wife works in the public sector and I am quite worried about her losing the job,” he said.

“We all pay our dues and are getting nothing back.”

Not everyone disagrees with the cuts though.

Marc Delaney, an engineer manager at a local company, was sympathetic towards the difficult position the government has been left in.

He said: “I think it is a very tough decision for them because they have to balance the records and it is going to be difficult to keep everyone happy.

“If you are going to reduce the deficit there has to be cuts.”

63 year-old Mary Griffin agreed but is still concerned about the impact the cuts will have, especially with the potential loss of police officers on the streets.

She said: “I think they are doing the right thing but we should have more police on the street, especially with it getting dark earlier now and with so many old people living here.”

Pensioner Beryl Waalluy didn’t think the cuts would affect her but feels sorry for those who will be hit.

She said: “I feel sorry for young people because they might have a harder time than people like me have had.”