Free swims for Telford's over-50s axed
People in Telford have been urged to lobby their MPs over government funding cuts after the axe fell on free swimming for over-50s in the borough.
Members of Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet last night agreed to scrap the scheme from January 2016 – despite 3,000 people taking up the offer since it was launched in April.
The move has been blamed on a £773,000 cut in the authority's public health grant from Whitehall.
Councillor Richard Overton, the council's deputy leader, said people should raise the issue with their local MPs to get the message across to the Government.
He said: "I am asking everyone to lobby their MPs about these cuts as the swimming programme is important.
"Lucy Allan and Mark Pritchard should be getting letters from these 3,000 people asking why these cuts need to be implemented. To have the free swimming taken away from them is just selfish."
Councillor Angela McClements, cabinet member for communities, regeneration and transport added: "I think it is really, really sad we have to do this as a council."
