A PENSIONER has hit out after being told he would have to pay 74 per cent more to go swimming.

Don Powell, from Kempshott, turned his back on the Aquadrome after being told he could not renew his £126 per year pass at the current rate.

The 67-year-old says he was told that his off-peak membership, allowing him to swim or use the gym between the hours of 10am and 2pm weekdays, was no longer an option and the next cheapest one available was £220.

Mr Powell said: “Basingstoke’s older generation are voting with their feet as the swimming pool in now almost devoid of ‘silver surfers’ during the off-peak periods that the passes were valid for.

“Everytime I went there it was full - silver hair was everywhere.

“But the last two times I went, we pretty much had a lane to ourselves in the pool.”

Another option was to be a pay as you go user, but Mr Powell said he usually swims twice a week and this cost, over the course of a year at £2.65 for a senior off-peak entry, would cost around £275, a rise of 118 per cent.

Mr Powell added: “The guy told me I couldn’t renew. Its not his fault but you could see that he had had the same talk with a lot of other people in the same situation. I’m not sure what the point is as who else is going to go swimming during the middle of the day in the week? Where else are the customers going to come from?

“I can understand a five per cent rise or something like that, but not this.”

Jimmy Miller, contract manager for Basingstoke & Deane Community Leisure Trust, said: “Our goal is to provide affordable membership options to all members of the community and any changes we make are subject to a high level of scrutiny before decisions are made. Whilst we make every effort to ensure the available options do not act as a barrier to any user groups, we do understand that all individual needs are different.

“We have discontinued some of our off peak membership including our standard adult and our senior 60+ membership option. Any member who signed a contract before March 2016 and has had continuous use of that membership has had their original priced honoured.

“We currently have three options available to over 60s; the senior ‘pay as you go’ option which is 40 per cent off the standard price and two membership options. A direct debit membership option at £22 per month which is just over 40 per cent cheaper than the standard adult membership or an annual membership at £220 for the year with no joining fee which equates to £18.33 per month, this also gives customers access to Tadley swimming pool. For those who are struggling financially the centre also offers a low income membership package which is open to all members of the community costing as little as £7 per month for those who qualify for the scheme.

“The membership options now available represent a substantial increase in value, offering increased availability of classes and sessions that can be accessed throughout the day, as well as allowing use of the facility during less busy times. Customers can now make use of the facilities between the hours of 6am to 10pm as opposed to 10am to 4pm under the old membership.

“We are confident that these new membership options will not discourage 60+ participants from using the facility.

“In fact with these changes in place we are confident that there will be an increase in participation of this user group. A majority of those who were on the original membership option have taken one of the new options and are enjoying the benefits that it brings. Our on-site membership team are available to talk to any individual and find the best option for all members.”