PENSIONERS are being denied internet access because a council is concerned they might access “inappropriate” websites.

Mike Bojczuk, who is a volunteer for IT company Digital Brighton, criticised the abandoning of a scheme to install free wi-fi into Brighton and Hove City Council run residential homes.

He said the local authority was trying to put in place far greater security measures than were necessary.

In a question to last week’s housing committee meeting at Hove Town Hall, Mr Bojczuk said: “Will council agree to provide wi-fi access to common area lounges of their senior housing schemes?

“Providing broadband to 25 schemes isn’t greatly expensive and if provided by the council, it could be used in many ways to add to and improve communication and services to senior residents.”

He said buses, libraries and housing association care homes all had public wi-fi, but no council-run homes had it. He added that installing it would help “mitigate the digital exclusion faced by many of our older residents”.

Committee chairwoman Anne Meadows said the council was working with volunteers to improve older residents’ online skills and experience, and that seniors’ housing schemes have held gadget workshops.

But, she said, there were complexities around wi-fi installation.

She said: “There are real challenges to providing internet access and we have previously had discussions with BT and Barclays to see if they could offer a free pilot project.

“Unfortunately at that time they were not able to offer a system that was suitable to offer the necessary level of data management that is required by our own policies as well as national and European legislation.

“And there are some particular challenges on security, and the council’s liability, when providing access in a communal setting - not least in terms of people accessing illegal or inappropriate material.

“This said however we are continuing to investigate how we can support better digital inclusion for all council tenants.”

Mr Bojczuk, who worked on the scheme referred to by Cllr Meadows and who works as a Digital Brighton volunteer, replied: “It was I who worked to bring that into Elizabeth Court with BT and Barclays.

“IT here put a much greater level of security required on just a simple wi-fi connection than was actually needed on buses and on public libraries.

“So when you move this forward, look at the security and make it a lower standard which will suit older people who aren’t going to be doing all the things other people may well be doing on the internet.”

The council’s digital team will now review the project.