I WISH to take issue with MJ Warner's letter in the Evening Advertiser, January 17 (Pension rise will be plenty.)

I take exception to the term old age pensioner. This term is very much outdated and creates a wrong impression of retired folk.

By what token can MJ Warner dare to infer that senior citizens/retirees have plenty of money for any purpose and also infer that any proposed future council tax rises would not create extra burdens upon them?

MJ Warner also disregards any other extra costs the retiree has to somehow absorb.

Among others, he criticises Mr F Avenell for his outspokenness, which must be correctly viewed as a genuine concern for all retirees.

I'd also like to point out a sad situation we have to bear. Let us look at the NHS our practice doctors do not work anything but surgery hours and the local NHS hospital is smaller than the previous hospital and will be required to serve Swindon and district's fast growing population.

Education is falling apart.

Policing the town is now a nightmare due to the savage increase in crime and shortage of police staff.

I put it to MJ Warner to state whether his interest in the Labour Party is not at the very least misplaced.

I cannot determine his age, but I hope when he retires there may still be a state pension available.

R J WHITE

Gorse Hill