Plan to axe free leisure services for families of Rossendale soldiers
2:03pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in
-
- By Peter Magill » Chief reporter
THE families of Valley soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan could miss out on free leisure centre use under plans to change a passport scheme.
Currently close relatives of servicemen and women in Rossendale are entitled to use the likes of Marl Pitts, Haslingden Leisure Centre, and Ski Rossendale, without charge.
But fresh proposals unveiled by the borough council are set to alter the arrangement, leaving only armed services personnel and a guest entitled to use the facilities.
Only minimal savings will be made on administration costs, as unique cards will not be necessary and troops can use their military identification cards.
The passport scheme, introduced in April 2008, also entitles users to free squash sessions at Whitworth Leisure Centre and Bacup Leisure Halls.
The Royal British Legion has reservations about the move, as it will hit military families with members on active service.
Customer services head Andrew Buckle said in a cabinet report: “There could be some opposition as some family members currently included within the scheme will no longer be able to utilise the leisure facilities.”
But he believes the fact that any service personnel can use the centres, regardless of whether they live in the valley or not, will dampen criticism.
John Hardiman, Royal British Legion county manager, said: “The Royal British Legion is very grateful to Rossendale Borough Council for the concessions given to our service personnel.
“We hope that the scheme might be continued, bearing in mind that the time when servicemen and women are being deployed on active service is one of the most critical times to support their immediate families.”
Coun Alyson Barnes, bor-ough Labour group leader, said the move “did not make sense” as the anticipated savings were minimal.
Fifty-six passports have been issued to services personnel, 22 for their partners, and 16 for close family.
The final passport to leisure proposals will be debated by the ruling Tory group at a cabinet meeting in Rawtenstall tonight.
Comments(4)
blueandwhitey79
says...
8:14pm Wed 17 Mar 10
FredaLivery wrote:how can you put bin men and street sweepers in the same category as soldiers in Afghan? soldiers do choose to do it your right, but if nobody chose to do it where would we be.. we'd have to conscript, as for the bin men they probably do it as there no other jobs around. bit of a difference in getting shot at to rid the world of evil and pickin up a few black bags,
Yes, the soldiers are performing a valuable community function whilst they're away, but so are Bin Men, Police, Civil Servants, Teachers and Street Sweepers. These men and women in the armed forces are paid more than some of those occupations above, and they chose to do it. I don't think its a perk that my tax-quids should reasonably be spent on when we're in a recession. Reconsider it when we have a budget surplus though, and I'll be all in favour of it. Sorry military families.
coates warder
says...
9:00pm Wed 17 Mar 10
BG
says...
10:40pm Wed 17 Mar 10
Anyone in the Armed forces should have gone into it with their eyes open, no one forced them into it so why should they be treated any different than any other Rossendale person.
We have to pay for our trips to Marl Pits.
They are doing a job (a good Job put at the end of the a Job for which they are paid for.,
Many people risk their lives day in and day out, many do dangerous jobs and many are at risk of being threatened daily by yobs with knives, so why do you think the "people" back "home" should get a free ride.
No way today everyone wants to be equal and treated the same, so lets get on with it.
Since our elected MP's party put them over there maybe she could use some of her "small" expenses to pay for them and not expect the rest of us to fund it. That also goes for thr Torries as well before someone jumps down my throat.
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FredaLivery says...
5:45pm Wed 17 Mar 10
These men and women in the armed forces are paid more than some of those occupations above, and they chose to do it.
I don't think its a perk that my tax-quids should reasonably be spent on when we're in a recession. Reconsider it when we have a budget surplus though, and I'll be all in favour of it.
Sorry military families.