There are a significant number of older people living in Brighton and Hove who represent nearly one in five voters.

The council, at the urging of the Older People’s Council, is now committed to being an age-friendly city, and recognised as such by the World Health Organisation.

We need to encourage active ageing. Recent research has shown that loneliness is a growing problem among the elderly. More than half live alone and 17% are in contact with friends and family less than once a week.

It is therefore vital that long-term investment is made to break down social isolation. The health benefits of an active life in older age are well documented.

This reduces costs for health care and provides social benefits to many older people who feel excluded from life and have limited resources.

What better social activity than for older people to access sports and leisure facilities?

However, their needs do not appear to have been taken into consideration under current proposals by Brighton and Hove City Council with regard to the concessionary cards and increases in fees for the use of leisure facilities.

The council proposes to restrict the use of this card to only those pensioners on pensioner credit. Means-testing benefits in this way is divisive and counterproductive.

Take-up of pensioner credit is far below eligibility, with one in four failing to claim.

Many councils are providing concessionary cards to all their older people on presentation of their bus pass. Norwich Council and Brent Council do so; it clearly encourages far greater take up, leading to health benefits and improved social contact for all older people.

A significant number of councils including Manchester, Lewisham, Leicester and Brent provide free swimming. No doubt they all have budget pressures, but they have wisely prioritised the long-term benefits rather than the short-term costs.

Brighton and Hove City Council charges older people for swimming and is planning to increase this cost by more than double the rate of inflation.

At a recent meeting, it was agreed to close a number of bowling clubs and shut five bowling greens across the city. This is detrimental to the opportunities for older people to remain active.

Councillors need to reconsider the current plans and support active ageing for senior citizens.

The long-term gains are obvious and it will improve the quality of life for older people and recognise the contribution they make to the city.

The Older People’s Council is holding a public meeting at the Jubilee Library next Tuesday, January 22, at 10.15am to discuss the impact of these proposals. Make your views heard.

Penny Morley, The Older People's Council, Crescent Road, Brighton