Conservatives to increase leisure centre charges? - Longton

4.06.45pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 31st Jul 2006

A Lib Dem Councillor has expressed concern over a possible increase in charges at West Berkshire Council's Leisure Centres.

Leisure Centre charges may rise for some groups

"Our Leisure Centres, most of which were established by the Liberal Democrats, are a great success," said Councillor Royce Longton (Lib Dem, Burghfield), who chairs the Willink Leisure Centre Joint Management Committee.

A report recently considered by the Council's Executive paved the way for increased charges at our leisure centres except for specially targeted groups who would continue to be charged at a subsidised rate.

Councillor Longton continued:

"At Willink we have more than 100,000 paying visitors each year from a relatively small catchment area in Burghfield and Mortimer. A substantial number of people are clearly using the facilities on a regular basis, and this must have a highly beneficial impact on health."

"I would welcome a Passport to Leisure scheme whereby the subsidised rate would be available to West Berkshire residents, but I do foresee great difficulties in identifying residents who should benefit from subsidised rates and those who should not. Yes, you could target the subsidised rates at the young, the elderly and those on benefits. But what about a typical family with a large mortgage and growing children? I bet there are many families out there with limited disposable income. Can you reasonably distinguish between families where the parents can afford to pay more and those where they can not? Of course not.

We have got our charging policy about right. We are providing a service that is highly beneficial and much appreciated. I hope the Conservatives don't mess it up in another act of meanness."