Carolyn
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 2202
Location: Abertillery
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 Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:35 pm Post subject: Anger as council increases gym charges for the over-60s |
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| Quote: | A MISTAKE by Blaenau Gwent council has led to a 75% price hike which threatens to thwart the fitness regimes of pensioners.
Gordon Thomas, a 71-year-old gym enthusiast, was astounded to discover a visit to the gym in Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre, had risen from 80p to £1.40.
Mr Thomas, who is dedicated to his fitness regime and visits the gym three times a week at 6.30am, said he was shocked by the huge increase.
He said: “It is awful, when I went there even the staff said they thought it was wrong.
“To go up that much is just ridiculous. The excuse was it had been compared to other prices in neighbouring boroughs like Pontypool and Caerphilly.
“I understand that, but they should then be comparing council tax as well. We are paying some of the highest charges in Wales, and that is my main bugbear.”
The grandfather, from Gwaun Helyg, Ebbw Vale, has been working out regularly for the past couple of years with two friends.
Ron Edwards, one of Mr Thomas’s gym buddies from Tredegar, has followed a fitness plan after following medical advice to improve his asthma, and says it has made him feel “100% better”.
Another of his friends is Graham Foley who is “fit as a fiddle”.
Mr Thomas decided to get fit after putting on weight to keep himself healthy and his joints supple.
He says he will find the extra money as he makes his healthy lifestyle a priority, but says he worries about other pensioners who may find the extra financial burden too much.
A spokeswoman for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council said: “We got it wrong. Our administrative error meant that during the year 2008/09 we reduced charges for customers over the age of 60.
“They only paid a child’s price to use the lifestyle studios at our sports centres. “This was 80p, when it should have been £1.35.
“Changes in sports centre charges for all customers were recommended to the council’s executive committee in April 2009.
“We decided to wait until then to put right our mistake and amend the cost for the over 60s to £1.40.
“All our charges for sports and recreational facilities across Blaenau Gwent still offer very good value for money.
“Every year we carry out a review of our leisure charges and our prices remain competitive with those of neighbouring local authorities.
“We do our best for all our customers – no matter what age they are. For example, we still offer an excellent Free Swim scheme.
“People over the aged of 60 can swim for free during public swimming sessions at all four of our sports centres.”
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http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news...-for-the-over-60s-91466-24149142/
Typical!!! Always the bridesmade never the bride. Pipped at the post again. Just as I was anticipating receipt of my bus pass and all the concessions being a senior citizen would bring 
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My life is no rehearsal There'll be no curtain call encore, so I've thrown my screwed up script away to ad lib my life once more! |
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