Meridian Analysis News

The so-called bedroom tax, changes to disability allowance, and a cap on benefits - it's all part of the welfare reforms being phased in from next week.

Starting on Monday, some of our poorest households - two million across the country - will be paying more council tax as a result of the changes. That will be around £140 extra a year.

This week, we've been looking at these Goverment reforms - and how they're affecting people. Tonight our social affairs correspondent Christine Alsford talks to senior government minister and Conservative MP for Fareham, Mark Hoban, about why it's happening.

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The latest headlines and weather forecast from ITV News Meridian, brought to you by Divya Kohli.

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Many disabled people fear that planned changes to the welfare system will leave many of them struggling to live independently. Under the reforms, every disabled person of working age is going to be reassessed - and one in five will not qualify for help in the future.

However, the Government says that we need to tackle the welfare budget - and reduce a bill that, for some disability benefits, has grown by more than a third in a decade.

Our social affairs correspondent Christine Alsford reports.

The interviewees are: Michael Grimmett, who receives disability benefits; Gail Loynes, a disability advisor; the Paralympic athlete Sophie Christiansen; and Simon Skuse, a stroke survivor.

The report is followed by a studio discussion about the topic.

• Politics
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• Disability benefits

All your news and weather for Tuesday 26th March with Divya Kohli.

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A widow who was told she would need to pay an extra £14 per week to stay in her home, is packing the last of her belongings and moving out.

Under government welfare reforms, her two bedroom bungalow is judged to have more space than she needs. So she's having to move out before her housing benefit is cut back.

Thousands of people in the South say the so called "Bedroom Tax" is unfair. But isn't it just as unfair to expect others to spend months and years on waiting lists in cramped and overcrowded conditions?

With 250,000 households living in overcrowded rented accommodation, can you tell the other side of the story? If so email christine.alsford@itv.com.

• Politics
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• Bedroom Tax

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British Transport Police officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a freight train struck a fence post. It had been placed on the rail tracks near Buckland Road in Rochester.

The incident was reported to BTP this afternoon, and was also attended by Network Rail who removed the fence post. Officers say the train could easily have been derailed.

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A man has died after a road collision in Crawley. The collision happened at 6pm on Tuesday March 12 in Gatwick Road, Crawley, at the junction with Oakwood Trade Park, when a red Daewoo Lanos car left the road and collided with a tree.

The 69-year old driver, Ronald Williams, of Marshall Road, Maidenbower, Crawley, suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. Mr Williams died in hospital. His passenger was treated for slight injuries.

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Our Transport Correspondent Mike Pearse has been looking back at the region's railways, nearly 50 years on from the announcement by Dr Richard Beeching to close railway lines all over the south.

The Government of the day was desperate to reduce heavy losses being made by the railway - as people flocked to the roads. Beeching, who was from Kent, recommended closing over 2,000 stations and 6,000 miles of track - around a third of the network.

The impact on jobs was massive - 67,000 lost. For passengers, it meany fare rises of ten per cent. This is our first special report.

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• Richard Beeching
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