SENIOR citizens throughout Leigh, Tyldesley and Atherton are up in arms about plans to increase the fee for part-time courses at Wigan and Leigh College.

Under new rules the former £6 concessionary fee will be scrapped when evening and day classes start in September and pensioners will have tfork out the full fee of £54 a subject unless they are on means tested benefits.

It is part of a cost cutting exercise forced on the college by further Government restraints.

But the new measures cut no ice with Rita Goodwin, a former Leigh and Wigan Tory councillor, who is now Chairman of the Community Students Association which represents a large body of part-time students.

Mrs Goodwin, of St Helens Road, Leigh, said fiercely: "This is a complete let down for all pensioners. We have all paid rates and taxes to pay for education in this country, even those who haven't any children of their own have paid for others to receive an education, and what thanks or return do they receive, but this slap in the face!

"The increases will affect lots of pensioners throughout the borough and if they can't afford to go to the courses, which are important to keep them occupied, then many will simply vegetate because they have nothing to keep them busy and which allows them to socialise. "Wigan Council used to subsidise these classes, and four or five years ago it was to the tune of £180,000 a year. last year and the year before that went down to only £20,000. That's a hell of a drop!

"We will press our case to have these silly charges dropped and to allow older people in the area to do college courses. After all, if courses are also dropped because nobody can afford to go to them, then it follows that centres such as Tyldesley, which handles a lot of part-time courses, will be in danger of closing. We must not allow this to happen."

In a statement to The Journal, Principal Margaret Murdin said: "It is correct that unfortunately the college has had to review its fees and concessions following further squeezes on its funding from the government.

"The college is set to have its funding reduced by approximately £1 million per year in each of the next three years. This has required the college to look at all aspects of its operations not only fees.

"As part of this review the college has reluctantly decided it can no longer maintain its heavy subsidy to all pensioners.

"Some better off pensioners will, in future have to pay the same rates as most of our other students - ie. 75p per hour. But, when you think about it there's little that you can get these days for 75p.

"All students, including pensioners, who are in receipt of housing benefit or income support or any other means tested benefit will still get free tuition. This will pick up many of our pensioner students.

"We really are trying to protect our services for those who are worst off - and unfortunately this means that those who are not on benefit and are a bit better off have to pay the 75p per hour.

"The college recognises that these courses are an important part of the lives of many local residents including many pensioners and we are doing all we can to keep them going."

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