By Ian Duncan

Last updated at 11:54, Monday, 18 March 2013

Around 100 people gathered in the centre of Carlisle to protest against the looming bedroom tax.

Carlisle protest against the bedroom tax

Members of the Labour Party, the Green Party, the Socialist Party and unions gathered signatures for a petition against the change to benefit payments.

Under the proposals people with unoccupied bedrooms, living in housing association accommodation face moving to a smaller property or a cut in benefit payments.

In Carlisle alone 1,181 people will be affected. Copeland will see 1,766, Workington 1,553 and Penrith and the Border 883.

Jonathan Elliott, 33, from Denton Holme, said he would be directly affected by the change because he had an extra room at his home.

He was moved to his current address by social services three years ago because he was being bullied due to his health issues and learning disabilities.

“My social worker is helping to fight my corner. I am willing to be rehomed into somewhere that is safe,” he said, adding that he needed the extra space so that family members had somewhere to stay when they came to visit.

John Reardon, from the Green Party, said “The sheer injustice of it all – that is the bottom line. We need affordable homes for all. Housing is one of those issues that if you get that right you sort a lot of others.”

Jessica Riddle, Carlisle City Council’s communities and housing portfolio holder, said it was being introduced to save money from the housing benefit budget.

First published at 11:48, Monday, 18 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk