AT a time of financial cuts, isn’t it wonderful that we can still find the money for massive pay-outs to retiring council officials.

What a shame this generosity didn’t spread down to Malvern’s Social Education Centre at Geraldine Road. It is now earmarked to close and the most venerable members of our society forced to travel to an unfamiliar area of Worcester.

Only last week a report condemned this high-handed uncaring approach to the way we glibly insist on making such folk travel, often long distances, when local centres are closed.

The costs involved in retaining our SEC are not huge and I beg those involved in making these decisions to think again; think beyond the balance sheet and consider the service users themselves.

Perhaps some of the retiring council officials might like to visit SEC and see the great work that is being done there by the dedicated staff?

PETER ATKINS Malvern