At a meeting of the Council Executive on Tuesday, it was decided that all pensioners in West Lothian, regardless of income, will get £20 in addition to the winter fuel allowance.
Councillor John Cochrane, below, of Action to Save St John's, broug
ht forward the motion and was delighted with the result. He said: "Our pensioners are particularly vulnerable this year with rocketing fuel bills causing genuine con-cerns about increased risks of hypo-thermia and for their general well -being.
''For all too many, the choice between eating well or heating their home will be a stark reality, a reality that in this day and age is frankly an outrage."
He added: "All West Lothian pensioners, regardless of income, will benefit."
Councillor Graeme Morrice, leader of the Labour group said: "We believe this amount should not be a 'one-off' but a permanent £20 annual pay-ment, index-linked and included in the revenue budget each year."
The SNP's Peter Johnston, West Lothian Council leader said: "We are the only council in Scotland to make these annual payments and will this year be spending in excess of £500,000 to provide for over 25,000 local pensioners.
''Given the financial pressures facing us, it is the best we can deliver without putting other services at risk."
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