MORE than 80,000 people have signed a petition against a council’s controversial move to charge to pick up elderly people after a fall.

Tendring Council wants to launch a new rapid response service as part its Careline package.

Pensioners can sign up to have specially-trained staff come to their home if they suffer a fall.

But they will be charged an extra £26 a year for the service, on top of the basic Careline package, which currently costs £21.60 a month.

Opposition to the plan has been fierce and people from all over the world have signed a petition in protest. Signatures have come from as far away as Brazil and India.

A protest planned this week in Clacton was cancelled.

Council Labour group leader Ivan Henderson said: “That response is amazing. "It just shows the disgust that people have for Tendring Council for even thinking about that charge.

“It shows that we were right to actively show our objections to any thought of such a thing.

“It seems to be a case of ‘now we know how many people want this service we will now charge for it’.

“There should be no thought – when elderly people fall and need help, it’s unthinkable to charge for it.”

He said the furore had badly damaged the council’s reputation.

But Tendring housing boss Paul Honeywood insisted there was still a lack of understanding surrounding the scheme.

“It’s not as if this lifting service is new,” he said.

“Other councils already do it – I’ve asked one of our officers to look at how it’s being done elsewhere.

Other councils already offer this service in some form, and one comment from the officer says our service would be the cheapest by far.

“It would cost £25.92 per year and that is regardless of how many times the service is used.

“The charge would be required to pay the wages of staff. There is no intention of making a profit out of the proposal.”

He added: “This isn’t a service we have to offer. It isn’t budgeted for and isn’t per se the responsibility of the council.

“I’m really disappointed it has been brought into the press in this way, particularly as it’s not a new scheme and it seems to be working quite well elsewhere.

“The important thing is what the Careline customers want.

“I have had not one negative message from Careline customers – one said she thinks it would be value for money.”

Mr Honeywood confirmed a final decision would be made on the scheme in February.