A GROUP of elderly residents could lose monthly outings because their housing trust has demanded nearly £600 a year from them.

Members of the Over 60s Club, the oldest of which is 89, meet each week for two hours at Windsor Gardens Hall.

The club is a self-sufficient group with members paying a pound each week to cover costs for stationery to play bingo and buy sugar and tea.

The senior citizens club, which has been running for 20 years, also generates its own funds so members can go on a monthly trip.

But Bromsgrove District Housing Trust is now asking the group to stump up £6.68 per hour each week to cover the cost of the hall.

Edward Knight, aged 86, from Salwarpe Road, Charford, said: "I am disgusted. We may have to lose some of our trips now.

"We are not doing any harm and don't cost anyone money to be here. All we do is boil two kettles each week."

His wife Joan added: "I would like to know what the money is for and where it is going. Why do we have to pay now after all this time? I am very disappointed and would ask the housing trust to reconsider."

The club has around 45 members who use the small centre in Windsor Gardens, and for most of them it is the only chance they have to socialise and meet with friends.

The group includes residents of the nearby sheltered accommodation.

Tony Lowry, operations manager for Bromsgrove District Housing Trust, said: "The nominal charge has been introduced following a recent initiative looking at which groups use our communal facilities.

"All non-tenant groups are charged for the hire of communal rooms. To ensure it is fair we have had to introduce a charge for the Over 60s Club.

"The money covers the cost of electricity, heating and maintenance of the room. The tenants of Windsor Gardens pay a service charge for communal corridors but this does not include the cost of running the community room.

"The hire charge will go into our community fund which supports community initiatives. We are a not-for-profit organisation, so any hire charge is for the benefit of all tenants across Bromsgrove."

christopher.flavell@

midlands.newsquest.co.uk