Ref. 27567PENSIONERS campaigning for a fairer council tax deal in west Wiltshire have been buoyed by the news that MP Andrew Murrison will present their petition in Parliament.

Dr Murrison made the pledge after campaign organisers Ron Young, 66, and Les Rose, 68, handed over the petition at Warminster Conservative Club on Friday. In it they are calling on the MP to support their fight against high council tax bills.

The pair collected almost 400 signatures from pensioners in Warminster and now hope the campaign will spread to west Wiltshire's other towns. Dr Murrison said he was fully behind their efforts and would present their petition at a House of Commons debate on old age pensioners.

Campaigners say their council tax bill has risen by over 100 per cent in just 10 years, leaving them increasingly short of cash. They believe the shortfall has been made worse because state pensions have not been increased accordingly.

Dr Murrison said the anger of pensioners across the country was having a big impact on MPs. Now the Government is planning its next election campaign, he felt this was the ideal time for pensioners to get their message across.

He said: "It is a tremendous effort, getting all those signatures together. I think pensioners are really feeling the pinch at the moment.

"Council tax increases hit everybody hard, but they hit pensioners disproportionately. They are also facing pensions, which are struggling to keep pace with the cost of living so they are up against it on two fronts.

"I'm also sympathetic to local authorities who find themselves between a rock and a hard place."

Mr Young, a retired carpet fitter, spent many hours collecting signatures outside Warminster Library. He said he was delighted with Dr Murrison's pledge, which he felt would raise the campaign's profile. He said: "This is excellent for our campaign, we are really pleased.

"I've been angry about this for some time, but one day I stood outside my house and decided that I should do something myself."

Mr Rose said: "I would just like to thank all these people who signed the petition. We will carry this right through until we get a result."

The pensioners now plan to hold a public meeting at Warminster Assembly Hall after Dr Murrison presents the petition in the Commons. They will invite representatives from Wiltshire County Council to have their say.