On Friday 14th March Jon Cruddas, Member of Parliament for Dagenham and Rainham Incorporating South Hornchurch and Elm Park, held a public meeting to discuss the Cost of Living with residents in Dewy Road, Dagenham.
The event was the second in a series of public consultations across Dagenham and Rainham designed for Jon to hear from local residents about their concerns regarding the cost and standard of living.
There was a great turnout from local residents who voiced their opinions on subjects relating to the Cost of Living. Many residents felt that pensioners in particular had been hit hard by the rise in the cost of heating their homes and the rise in food prices.
Other issues were raised by resident who said they were particularly scared of crime in the area. Many residents were very complimentary about the service the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham provided and the caretaking services undertaken in the area.
Jon Cruddas MP said "It was great to see so many people at the event who expressed their concerns about a range of issues. There was a mix of positive and negative. I was very happy to hear people were pleased with the caretaking services. However the rise in the cost of living is really hurting people out there. It was very sad to hear people having to choose whether to heat their home sufficiently or to feed themselves well."