Axe hovers over Southchurch and Westcliff libraries

Lobby Southend’s councillors

Click on the image to see a bigger version (and a more readable one at that).

The Civic Centre referred to is the one in Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea. Its postal code is SS2 6ER. A map can be found here

Free swimming – a nasty cut that could prove costly in the end

The Con-Dem coalition has condemned the free swimming given by the previous Labour administration to the young and old. Free swimming was available to the under 16s and over 60s, and is being scrapped from the end of next month.

Here is an example of the most vulnerable in society being asked to pay for the mistakes of the greediest.

The Con-Dem coalition has already signalled that the poor will have to foot the bill for the deficit as the Government targets those on benefits and those who use facilities such as Sure Start.

The deficit has to be tackled, and this will be achieved by a combination of cuts and tax rises. In the grand scheme of things this cut is penny-pinching and mean-spirited.

It also sends out the wrong signals; many have been the concerns over public health and the lack of exercise by our young. Exercise is also good for our more senior citizens, and regular swimming, in my view, brings unseen savings as fitter people obviously use less health resources.

To save £40 million this nasty government may be inducing a long-term loss. Who knows what cost will be incurred as unfit youngsters turn into obese adults.

Also, at a time when billions have been pumped into the banking sector, and thus indirectly paying for some bonuses, it looks like failure rules over fitness.