GWYNEDD Council has been criticised for no longer offering older residents cut prices for using leisure centre facilities.

Myra Clayton, 71, was shocked to see the council has removed its reduced rates for those over 70.

Myra, who used her local gym in Porthmadog frequently, found that the cheaper rates had been taken away, rising from £2.30 a visit to £3.90 – a rise of 70 per cent.

The concessionary rate for over-60s is still in place, however, and Gwynedd Council has admitted it will be monitoring the situation to see if it has a “significant impact” on the county’s most vulnerable residents.

“I was rather dismayed when I saw the rise. I had no idea it was coming,” Myra told the Cambrian News.

“It seems self-defeating to me; they want to keep people out of the doctors’ surgeries and the hospital but then they make getting fit and healthy unaffordable.

“People over 70 often don’t have much money, so any rise would have a negative effect, especially one of 70 per cent.

“I try and keep healthy and the reduced rate helps me stay that way. I can see a lot of people being put off coming now.

“Not only will they lose out on staying fit, but also on the social aspect of going to the leisure centre.”

Explaining the rate increase, a Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “All residents over 60 years of age, are eligible for concessionary rates in all council-managed leisure centres. In addition, people over 60 are also able to access free swimming sessions during term time within the council’s seven public pools.

“Some years ago, a number of add­itional concessionary prices were added to the pricing structure for leisure centres which included a price for gym access for over 70-year-olds and a disabled children’s swimming fee.

“In order to make leisure centre fees and charges clearer for customers, a decision has been made to reduce the number of variable concess­ionary prices."

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