Gymn nasty

Edinburgh Leisure, the manager of Edinburgh’s recreational facilities, has increased membership fees for senior citizens from this month by nearly 33 per cent from last year, bringing to 76 per cent the increases within three years.

When I queried this shock increase, a representative said they had surveyed other councils in the UK to bring Edinburgh’s prices in line, keeping with existing trends nationwide, adding that only senior memberships were raised, with no other category affected.

There was no explanation why this vulnerable group is being targeted for these huge price rises, when wage earners and people in their active years are not experiencing such rises.

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Seniors are encouraged by the council and health agencies to get out and exercise, yet it is members of this group who are usually on very low, fixed incomes and least able to afford such escalating expenses.

I was advised that membership provides for “40 per cent reduction in other activities”. How many activities are the elderly likely to require or pursue?

Unlike the 20 to 45-year-old age group, the elderly would just like the opportunity for affordable exercise if and when it is available to them.

Such discrimination and targeting is at best ill-advised at worst insensitive and callous. Perhaps Edinburgh Leisure feels that this social group is an easy “hit” and less likely to complain.

David Bellak

Bellevue Road

Edinburgh

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